CROOKSTON GIRLS TENNIS COASTS TO WIN OVER LONG PRAIRIE-GE

The fifth-ranked Crookston Pirate Girl’s Tennis team made quick work of the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Thunder in the Section 8A quarterfinals. It took just over an hour for the Pirates to win 7-0 while winning 84 games and only losing three of them in a match played at the Crookston High School tennis courts. “We knew what the stakes were today,” said Pirates Head Coach Pat Janorschke.

After an impressive regular-season going 15-3 in duals, the Pirates replicated that success in the quarterfinals of the 8A team tournament. “We wanted to play in the quarterfinals. If we had the one seed we would have had the bye,” explained Coach Janorschke. “I liked it that we had to play something.”
Halle Winjum, at second doubles, was the first one done with her match sweeping the two sets at 6-0, 6-0. Isabelle Smith, fourth singles, and the third doubles team of Hannah Lindemoen and Morgan Nelson followed right behind with duplicate scores of 6-0, 6-0. Needing just one more win to advance to the semi-finals, Brekken Tull at third singles clinched that with a 6-0, 6-1 victory. “Today was just reminding the the girls that we have to play today like we are playing a top match and we will come out on top,” said Coach Janorschke. “And they did play like they are capable of today.”
The rest of the matches were played out and Crookston finished strong. Hayden Winjum was the next Pirate to finish and she also won with a score of 6-0, 6-0. The second doubles team of Halle Bruggeman and Kaylie Clauson were next in with a score of 6-0, 6-1. The final matchup was first singles, the team of Emma Osborn and Emma Gunderson, and they ended the day with a 6-0, 6-1 win. “No matter what we have to come out to win and play as we normally would,” said Coach Janorschke. “That’s all there is to it now.”

The Pirates season continues for at least a few more days as they will be back in action on Tuesday in the Section 8A semi-finals at the Fargo Courts Plus. If they win in the semi-finals, they will play in the section championship shortly afterwards. “Getting to play today will let us go into next week on the run,” added Coach Janorschke. “Next week, we know what the other teams will be like and if we come out and play to our standards we should have no problem.”