CROOKSTON GIRLS TENNIS ADVANCES TO STATE TOURNAMENT

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Tennis team improved to 18-3 in duals with a 5-2 victory over #3 seed Staples-Motley in the Section 8A Girl’s Tennis Tournament semi-finals and a 5-2 victory over #4 seed Wadena-Deer Creek in the championship held at Fargo Courts Plus.   

CROOKSTON vs STAPLES-MOTLEY –
Crookston had a great start to the match and won its first three matches on their way to a 5-2 victory over the #3 seed Staples-Motley Cardinals in the Section 8A semi-finals at Fargo Courts Plus.   “We came out strong and played some really good tennis,” said Pirate Coach Pat Janorschke. “We hit the ground running and kept going the entire match.”
The match started with Abby Borowicz playing a strong match to come away with a 6-2, 6-4 victory to give her team a 1-0 lead in the match.   “She played a great match and wherever we put her she plays well,” said Coach Janorschke. “She is a consistent and steady player.”
About 20 minutes later, the third doubles team of Hannah Lindemoen and Morgan Nelson wrapped up their match with an impressive performance.  Lindemoen was firing rockets down the lines for winners and Nelson was fantastic at the net and back on the baseline to cruise to a 6-2, 6-0 victory and the Pirates led 2-0.  “As usual they came out and took care of business,” said Coach Janorschke.
Crookston took a 3-0 lead in the match when Halle Winjum was impressive in her 6-1, 6-2 victory at second singles.  Halle was hitting powerful returns for winners and played a solid match to pick up another impressive victory.  “She played a similar opponent, but she hit the ball hard and came away with an impressive win,” said Coach Janorshcke.
Staples-Motley earned their first win of the match when Ronnie Noska won a hard-fought match against Crookston’s Brekken Tull 6-4, 6-4 to get within a 3-1 deficit. “Brekken battled well, but ran into a solid opponent,” said Coach Janorschke. “She had a great match and competed well.”
Crookston answered a few minutes later and were able to celebrate when the first doubles team of Emma Osborn and Emma Gunderson breezed to another straight set victory with a 6-1, 6-3 victory to assure the Pirates a trip to the Section 8A championship with a 4-1 lead. “The Emma’s came out and played strong and picked up the important fourth win,” said Coach Janorschke.
The teams split the final two matches with Staples-Motley winning the first singles match in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 10-5 before the Pirate second doubles team of Kaylie Clauson and Hallie Bruggeman lost their first set and bounced back to win the next two sets 6-0, 6-3 to win the match 5-2 and to advance to the Section 8 Championship and will play Wadena-Deer Creek at about 2:45 p.m.  “Second doubles started a little slow, but picked up their game as the match went along,” said Coach Janorshcke. “The team played a great match and we are where we wanted to be, in the Section Championship match.”

CROOKSTON vs WADENA-DEER CREEK
Crookston was coming off an impressive semi-final performance victory and it seemed to carry over into the championship as the third doubles team of Hannah Lindemoen and Morgan Nelson played another impressive match and cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory.   A few minutes later, Abby Borowicz played a dominating match and cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory to give Crookston a quick 2-0 lead in the match.
Wadena-Deer Creek won the third singles match as Libby Hartman beat Crookston’s Brekken Tull 6-3, 6-2 in a battle of two solid players to get within a 2-1 deficit.
Crookston answered with another win to take a 3-1 lead when Halle Winjum cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory to bring the Pirates within one win of advancing to the State tournament.
Wadena-Deer Creek continued to battle and won the first singles match as Madison Packer played a tremendous match and beat Hayden Winjum 6-2, 6-1 to get within a 3-2 deficit.
The second doubles team of Halle Bruggeman and Kaylie Clauson had a battle and won the first set 6-4.  In the second set they trailed 5-4 before winning the next three games to come from behind to win the set 7-5 to give Crookston a 4-1 lead and to secure a trip to the state tournament on October 26. “It feels pretty amazing, I am pretty excited about it,” said Clauson. “I am super happy right now that we are going to state.  It was a nice win.”   Bruggeman echoed her teammates sentiments and excitement. “It feels awesome.  It has been a longtime coming,” said Bruggeman. “I have been close two years in a row and it is nice to go this year.  We played pretty good and were a little disconnected right away but we came back and finished it in the end.”
The final match of the day was first doubles and Crookston’s Emma Osborn and Emma Gunderson won an exciting three setter for a 5-2 team victory. “It was a hard-fought match and some great matches at first doubles and second doubles,” said Coach Janorschke. “I am so happy to see the girls so happy and they deserve it.  They have worked hard and really played well today.  We are looking forward to a couple more weeks of practice.” The Pirates advance to the Minnesota State Class A Girls Tennis Tournament on October 26 and 27 in Minneapolis.

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