The Northfield High School boys tennis team geared up for the 2024 Big 9 tournament with a series of four dual matches over the last week. The competition resulted in a 3-1 record in the four matches and it improved the Raiders 2024 record to 8-2 in Big 9 play.
The Raiders opened their week with a 6-1 win over Owatonna at home on Tuesday, April 30. Northfield’s Blake Simon lost a 6-3, 6-3 decision at first singles but Jackson Hessian (second singles), Theo Menk (third singles) and Eli Bengston (fourth singles) all claimed wins for the Raiders.
In doubles play, Joe Grant and Carter Borovsky rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 win at first doubles followed by a 6-3, 6-0 win at second doubles by Reuben Menk and Parker Sneary. The win total was completed with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at third doubles by Kyle Bulfer and Dyson McBroom.
The lone setback of the week was a 7-0 loss at home on May 1 against Big 9 frontrunner Rochester Mayo, which gained a number two state ranking in the latest Class AA poll. A highlight of the match for NHS was the play of McBroom and Bulfer at third doubles as they lost a close 6-4, 6-3 decision.
The Raiders’ homestand continued on May 4 with a 7-0 shutout against Big 9 rival Winona. Simon rolled to a 6-4, 6-1 win at first singles. Hessian won 6-3, 6-0 at second singles, while Theo Menk won a 6-0, 6-0 match at third singles and Andy Amundson won 6-2, 6-3 at fourth singles.
Success carried over to doubles play as Grant and Borovsky won a 6-1, 6-2 match at first doubles. Reuben Menk and Sneary scored a 6-3, 6-2 win at second doubles followed by a win at third doubles by Bulfer and McBroom.
In exhibition play, Gabe Fischer-Navarro and Errol Lenzen added an 8-4 win at fourth doubles for NHS.
To wrap up a busy week, Northfield gained another 7-0 shutout against non-conference rival Farmington at home on Monday, May 6. Simon won the top spot at first singles while Reuben Menk tried his hand at singles play and posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second singles.
At third singles, Hessian gained a 6-0, 6-0 win and Bengtson won by a 6-0, 6-0 tally at fourth singles. Borovsky and Grant added a win at first doubles for NHS while Theo Menk moved over to second doubles and gained a 6-0, 6-2 victory along with his partner Sneary. To complete the shutout, Bulfer and McBroom won 6-1, 6-0 at third doubles.
In exhibition play against the Tigers, Amundson won 8-1 at fifth singles, while extra doubles wins were added by the duos of Lenzen and Gabe Fisher and Owen VanderMartin and Max Beckman.
“Wow what a week of tennis! I’m really impressed by the level of play that I’m seeing with these guys,” NHS coach Erik Swenson said. “Their games are getting better. Once these guys get into their groove and find their rhythm, there seems to be no stopping them.”
He added, “We had a few guys miss our match in Winona, so Andy Amundson stepped in for Eli Bengtson at fourth singles and won in fine style (6-2, 6-3). Andy had some big serves and nice slice backhand shots that helped him win some points and secure the sweep of all matches.”
Northfield will play at Lakeville South on Thursday, May 9 and then travel to Rochester on Saturday, May 11 for the 2024 Big 9 Conference tournament that will be played at the Rochester Outdoor Tennis Center.
“Northfield should have some high seeds in that competition, especially for doubles, since those guys only lost matches to Mayo all season. Fourth singles should have a nice seed too,” Swenson said.
On Monday, May 13, Northfield will begin play in the Section 1AA team tournament. The Section tournament seeds have not been determined at this point. Section tournament played will continue through Friday, May 17.
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