PIRATE BOYS TENNIS FALLS TO TRF, THOMFORDE IMPROVES TO 7-0

On Tuesday, the Crookston Pirate Boys Tennis team was supposed to play Thief River Falls, and Detroit Lakes in a triangular in Thief River Falls, but the cold weather forced a few changes.  Thief River Falls was able to secure a few courts at Choice Fitness in Grand Forks, so the teams played a match that lasted over four hours, and the Thief River Falls won 5-2.

The teams only had three courts to use because of various tennis lessons, University of North Dakota Women’s Tennis practice, and other activities that were planned at the facility, causing the match to take longer than usual. 

Thief River Falls took an early 2-0 lead with straight-set wins at third singles and third doubles.  The Prowler’s third singles won 6-4, 6-2, and third doubles won the first set easily 6-1, but Crookston’s Tim Brule and Sam Widseth battled in the second set but fell short 7-5, and Thief River Falls led 2-0. 

Crookston’s Isaac Thomforde won a long, hard-fought battle at fourth singles in three sets.  Isaac lost the first set 6-4 before bouncing back to win the second set 6-4, forcing a third and final set.  Isaac outlasted his opponent and won the third set 10-6 to bring Crookston within a 2-1 deficit.  Thomforde improves to a perfect 7-0 on the season and is the only Pirate regular that hasn’t lost a match this season. “Isaac never gave up and competed hard the entire match,” said Pirate Coach Pat Janorschke. “He has really improved again this year.  He gives it 100 percent every time he plays and that is all we can ask for.”

Thief River Falls won the second doubles match 6-4, 6-2 and won the second singles match 6-0, 6-1 to take a 4-1 lead while officially winning the match with two individual matches remaining.

Thief River Falls won the first singles match as the Pirate’s Erik Coauette ran into one of the top tennis players in the section and the state, Jack Onkka.  Erik competed hard, and the match was a little closer than the score indicated, but ultimately Onkka was too much as he won 6-1, 6-0. “Erik played hard and he played well,” said Coach Janorschke. “If he would have been playing against almost anybody else he probably would have won.  He learned some things in today’s match and it will make him even better.”

The first doubles match was great.  Thief River Falls won the first set before Crookston’s Jack Garmen, and Evan Christensen settled in with some solid net play and serving to win the second set, forcing a third set.  The third set was another tightly contested set as Garmen and Christensen were able to outlast their opponents to win the third set tie-breaker 18-16 in a marathon. “They had much better net play and were able to get a lot of points there,” said Coach Janorschke. “They bounced back and played some great tennis in the second and third set.  The third set was pretty intense.  They played hard and earned the win.”
Thief River Falls still won the match by a 5-2 score. “It was a disappointing result, but we saw some good things and a lot of things we have to work on to get better,” said Coach Janorschke. “It would be nice to get outside and get some consistent practice in, but mother nature won’t let us yet.  The guys keep working hard and are making the best of this season so far.”

Crookston drops to 2-5 on the year and is scheduled to be at Fergus Falls for a triangular along with Willmar on Thursday.  Thief River Falls improves to 4-2 on the year with their only two losses to Rock Ridge (Virginia/Eveleth coop) and Duluth East.