Several area schools took part in the 5A and 5AA team sectional tournaments last week, with Breck winning the Section 5A championship while Champlin Park reached the semifinals of the 5AA tournament. All teams were also set to take part in individual sections the following week.
5A
Fifth seed Brooklyn Center exited the Section 5A team sectional in the first round after a 7-0 loss to fourth seed DeLaSalle.
Brooklyn Center’s singles players, freshman Leo Cazales, freshman Alexander Michael, sophomore Chinuj Vang, and seventh grader Alexsey Pankou, each lost their matches against DeLaSalle, but all fought hard. Cazales and Michael each earned a game win.
It was another group of tough battles in doubles. Second doubles pair Jonathan Nguyen and Ayden Khang, both sophomores, lost 6-2, 6-4, picking up several game wins. The same was the case for third doubles Timothy Salazar and Ian Roldan-Bonilla, who lost 6-4, 6-4. Salazar is a sophomore and Roldan-Bonilla is a seventh grader.
Brooklyn Center, while facing obstacles, did show strength this season. They picked up two wins against Patrick Henry and game wins in losses to schools like Kennedy, while managing a sizable roster despite challenges. The team was in its fourth year under head coach Ted Harding this season.
DeLaSalle’s earlier win meant the Islanders faced first seed Breck May 15 in the second round of the Section 5A team sectional. The Mustangs dominated that matchup with a 7-0 win to set up a section championship matchup with Providence Academy May 17.
Despite weather trouble Friday, Breck held strong and beat Providence Academy 5-1 in the championship event to win sections and qualify for state for the fourth straight year. Eighth grader Dylan Warn continued his strong season for the Mustangs with a first singles win to highlight the evening.
5AA
The opening round of the Section 5AA team sectional saw sixth seed Coon Rapids beat 11th seed Park Center 7-0 May 14 to give the Pirates an early exit from the bracket.
Fourth seed Champlin Park opened their section team sectional with a strong 7-0 win over familiar foe and fifth seed Armstrong May 15. Despite the eventual scoreline, the meet included some hard fought battles. Champlin Park’s Gavin Kelleher beat Jacob Merriam at first singles, but the two seniors’ latest meeting was as dramatic as ever with both of their qualities clear.
Champlin Park’s Gavin Ogdahl and Duran Huroon got revenge on Armstrong’s Arie Wilschut and Adam Marable after the Falcons won an early regular season meeting in second doubles, but again the win was well-earned. Second singles Matt George won for Champlin Park against Ben Breitbach in another of the day’s close battles.
The Rebels then faced first seed Wayzata in the semifinals, losing 7-0 to conclude their participation in the 5AA team sectional.
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