by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor

Senior doubles players Khloe Lund and Bela Nelson, and junior singles player Emma Fagerstrom represented the Thief River Falls girls tennis program during the individual portion of the 2019 Class A

Girls Tennis State Tournament Thursday, Oct. 24. Lund and Nelson posted a 1-1 record in doubles competition, while Fagerstrom went 0-2 in singles.

“I thought all 3 girls enjoyed the experience but wished they had a redo button,” said Head Coach Fabian Tunberg. “What I mean by that is they are all competitive players and experience goes a long ways. I

t often takes a set or a match to adjust to the next level. Our level of focus and level of e

ffort was great.”

Lund and Nelson won their opening round match over Tea Armstrong/Arika Howard of Blue Earth Area 6-1, 7-6 (1), before losing to eventual tournament runner-up Avery Stilwell/Elise Bierbaum of Litchfield in the second rou

nd 6-4, 6-2 to end their state tournament experience.

“I think both of these girls played with so much heart that it just hurt even more when the last point was finished,” said Tunberg. “These two raised the level of tennis that our program has needed. Thank you Khloe and Bela for showing our program what doubles is supposed to look like.”

The senior duo were credited with having the best doubles fun

damentals in the state, according to one of the Blake School coaches. Fagerstrom fell to Vanessa Barkosky of Maple River 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round, and dropped a 6-1, 6-0 decision to Jane Spading of Rochester Lourdes in the first round of consolation tennis. Spading went on to win the singles consolation championship.

“Playing at the state tournament was a dream come true,” Fagerstrom said. “We played against and watc

hed a lot of great tennis teams and players. We learned a ton – most notably what it is going to take to compete against the best teams in the state. If we want to compete at the highest levels, we need to work hard in the weight room during the off season and

 

find some indoor court time during the winter. Our season is over, but our work for next year is just beginning.”

Prowlers fall to Blake, Minnewaska Area in state tennis duals

Without any first-hand state tournament experience to lean on, the Thief River Falls girls tennis team learned the hard way that there is another level at state. Thief River Falls had the unenviable task of facing four-time defending state champion The Blake School of Minneapolis. The Bears, who were seeking their fifth consecutive state championship and 13th in program history, entered the tournament with experience at all seven positions.

Tuesday, the Bears showed their strength and experience with a 7-0 win over Thief River Falls. Four

of Blake’s wins were 6-0, 6-0 scores. Blake defeated Litchfield 7-0 in Wednesday morning’s s

emifinal round, before knocking off Rochester Lourdes 6-1 in the championship match Wednesday afternoon.

“Blake is far and above everyone else in the field,” Tunberg said. “It’s unbelievable the level those girls play at all the way through the lineup. I will say this, though, the weakness is in the doubles and I think as a program we can capitalize on that opportunity in the future.”

A much more favorable match-up awaited the Prowlers in the consolation round. Playing against Minnewaska Area, the Prowlers won two of three doubles matches, but just one singles match in a 4-3 loss to the Lakers. Ava Yuska picked up the lone singles win for the Prowlers, defeating Karra Hanson 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles wins came from Lund/Nelson and Prickett/Steele. Following its 4-3 win over Thief River Falls, Minnewaska Area won the consolation championship with a 4-3 win over Blue Earth Area. While it will go down as a loss for the Prowlers, Tunberg describes the Minnewaska match as the match of the year for the Prowlers.

“Our hearts and effort were incredible,” Tunberg said. “Each position was dedicated to play for eac

h other and sadly, this time we didn’t come out on the winning end. I truly believe the difference again was just experience. Minnewaska is a solid team all the way through the lineup.”

The Blake School 7, Thief River Falls 0
Singles – No. 1 Arlina Shen, B, def. Emma Fagerstrom, TRF, 6-0, 6-0. No. 2 – Sonia Baig, B, def. Brooklyn Broadwell, TRF, 6-0, 6-0. No. 3 Bella Suk, B, def. Ava Yuska, TRF, 6-0, 6-0. No. 4 Allyson Jay, B, def. Trista Spears, TRF, 6-1, 6-2. Doubles – No. 1 Emily Melin/Caroline Cameron, B, def. Khloe Lund/Isabela Nelson, TRF, 6-2, 6-4. No. 2 Anna Secor/Natalie Anderson, B, def. Abby Flaagan/Brooklyn Brouse, TRF, 6-0, 6-0. No. 3 Nana Vang/Annabelle Swigert, B, def. Brea Prickett/Gabriella Steele, TRF, 6-1, 6-2.

Minnewaska Area 4, Thief River Falls 3
Singles – No. 1 Danielle Thorfinnson, MA, def. Emma Fagerstrom, TRF, 6-1, 6-2. No. 2 Alissa Thorfinnson, MA, def. Brooklyn Broadwell, TRF, 7-6 (0), 6-1. No. 3 Ava Yuska, TRF, def. Karra Hanson, MA, 6-4, 6-1. No. 4 Addy

Randt, MA, def. Bell Hamre, TRF, 6-4, 7-6(6)
Doubles – No. 1 Khloe Lund/Isabela Nelson, TRF, def. Greta Reichmann/Annika Randt, MA, 6-1, 6-2. No. 2 Maddie Thorfinnson/Olivia Richards, MA, def. Abby Flaagan/Brooklyn Brouse, TRF, 6-7(7), 6-1, 10-2. No. 3 Brea Prickett/Gabriella Steele, TRF, def. Maddi Kluver/Leah Hagen, MA, 6-0, 6-1.

Individuals
Doubles – Khloe Lund/Bela Nelson, 1-1, DNP, def. Tea Armstrong/Arika Howard, Blue Earth Area, 6-1, 7-6 (1); def. by Avery Stilwell/Elise Bierbaum of Litchfield, 6-4, 6-2.
Singles – Emma Fagerstrom, 0-2, DNP, def. by Vanessa Barkosky, Maple River, 6-3, 6-3; def. by Jane Spading, Rochester Lourdes, 6-1, 6-0.