PIRATE BOY’S TENNIS BEATS MOORHEAD, FALLS TO TRF IN FIRST MATCHES OF THE SEASON

The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Tennis team got the opportunity to get their first matches of the season in today, as they took on the Thief River Falls Prowlers and the Moorhead Spuds in Fargo for a triangular. The Pirates fell to the Prowlers by a score of 5-2 and then bounced back to defeat Moorhead 6-1 to end the day. “I think it went pretty well today all things considered,” said Crookston head coach Nick Garmen, “I think the guys enjoyed playing and it was good to get things going.”

CROOKSTON VS TRF –
The Prowlers would win three of the four singles matches and two of the three doubles matches for a 5-2 win. Isaac Thomforde would battle at the #1 singles slot for the Pirates but the junior would fall 6-4, 6-2. Freshman Reggie Winjum would play at #2 singles and fall in straight sets as well 6-1, 6-3. Gunnar Groven was placed at #3 singles and dropped his match in two tightly contested sets 6-3, 6-2. Sam Widseth was the only Pirate to pick up the win in singles as he won his match at #4 singles by a score of 6-2, 6-0. “All the singles matches were really tight and we had a lot of games go into duece which was good to see,” said Pirates coach Nick Garmen. “I think it took our guys a little bit to get going on a real court but that probably is because we found out we were playing in these matches at about 5:00 p.m. yesterday. I thought Sam (Widseth) played really well and was extremely consistent. Made his opponent make the mistakes and was able to play really well.”

In the doubles matches, the duo of Tatum Lubinski and Jack Everett would be defeated at #1 doubles 6-0, 6-0. The #2 doubles team of Tim Brule and Ethan Erdman would pick up the second win in the match for the Pirates, as they would take the first set 6-4, before falling in the second set 4-6, and then bouncing back to win the third set tie-breaker 10-6 for the win. Grant Funk and Elliot Bartrum were playing #3 doubles in the opening match of the season, and they would fall in a tight one 7-5, 6-2. “It was good to get the one win at doubles and i thought overall all the guys handled things well for it being the first match of the season against a tough Thief River Falls team.”

Crookston drops to 0-1 on the season with the loss.

CROOKSTON VS MOORHEAD –
The Pirates won all four single matches in the second match of the day with Isaac Thomforde starting things off and picking up a win at #1 singles 6-2, 6-1. Reggie Winjum would also win his match at #2 singles by a score of 6-3, 6-2. “Those two both did well today and had some tough competition,” said coach Garmen. “They battled and were able to bounce back and get a couple of nice wins in that second match.” Sam Widseth also won his match at #3 singles 6-1, 6-2 to give him a record of 2-0 on the day, and Gunnar Groven picked up the win at #4 singles 6-2, 6-4.

In the doubles matches the Pirates also had success as well. Crookston’s Tatum Lubinski and Jack Everett lost at #1 doubles by a score of 6-2, 6-1 but the Pirates would win the other two matches. Tim Brule and Ethan Erdman were able to get a win at #2 doubles 6-3, 6-4 and the duo of Grant Funk and Elliot Bartrum also picked up a win in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to give the Pirates an official 6-1 win in the match. “I think the biggest thing this early in the season will be continuing to work and trying to build consistency,” said coach Garmen. “I think it’s everything, our serving, forehands, backhands, things like that. If we can continue to grow I’m excited for what the season will bring.”

Crookston moves to 1-1 on the season and will be back in action next Thursday when they travel to Bemidji for a triangular with the Lumberjacks and Sauk Rapids.