The boys tennis team began official practices just this week and have had a few outside sessions when the weather has cooperated. Otherwise, they try and take full advantage of the indoor setting of the fieldhouse — which can be converted into half-a-dozen or so tennis courts in a matter of minutes should the weather turn sour.
That may be necessary as the week progresses as Coach Hokan Bengtson’s team hosts their first invite of the year against Delano, Buffalo and Orono today (Saturday).
Bengtson is heading into his 15th year as the boys tennis team’s coach and his passion has not waned and he thirsts for impacting the kids in ways that far reach past wins and losses.
“It’s important to me to make these kids better athletes but also better people in society,” Bengtson says. “Many of these kids most likely won’t be playing tennis competitively as they grow older but the life lessons are what will stay with them throughout their lives.”
Thirty-five to 40 kids are under his and his coaches’ tutelage, which has been a staple for many of the two-dozen or so years he’s been coaching.
“Our ideal situation for putting together teams is 12 varsity, 12 JV and 12 middle school so we are pretty close to having just the right amount of players,” Bengtson says.
Bengtson lost six players to graduation from last year’s team including Dawson Brown, Austin Hill, Joe Gudim, Josh Duke and Josiah Borst. This year’s team has three seniors, nine juniors, four sophomores and eight freshmen.
Coach Bengtson will be relying on three leaders to perform their very best and guide the up-and-comers who lack the experience at the varsity level. Junior C.J. Howard, junior Tyler Lindquist and senior Jackson Lefebvre have been chosen by the coach to set examples for daily conduct and leadership.
“Our roles as captains means we have to work hard everyday doing the little things and show the younger guys how we do things and what is expected,” said Howard.
“Being a role model on and off the court is also part of our jobs as captains,” said Lefebvre.
“I agree,” said Lindquist. We need to demonstrate we are giving 100% every day and be examples.”
Howard feels his best strength in terms of tennis play is when he is at the net. He’s focusing a lot of his efforts this spring on being better on his serves and returns.
Lefebvre thinks his strong game is aided by his serve and volley and he is trying hard to improve on his consistency with ground strokes.
Lindquist likes his game when he is playing consistent and is proud of his strong forehand but thinks there still areas of that part of his game he can improve on.
The Bulldogs finished the 2015 campaign with a 16-4 record and Becker came within a sliver of making it to state when they lost a 4-3 match to St. Cloud Tech last May.
Bengtson will have the same assistants with him again this year as Rob Olson and Brett Hultgren will combine with Joe Gudim and volunteer Nate Bucher to help with their expertise.
Ashley Souba is the student manager.
Bengtson is showing faith in his three captains and they appreciate all their coach has done for them in the years they’ve had him lead them.
“He is amazing,” said Lefebvre of Bengtson. “He helps with all the little things and if you ever need anything, you can just go ask him and he’ll help you out.”
“Coach Bengtson is a guy I look up to on and off the court,” said Lindquist. “He’s always working hard with you on the court, on the field or even in the classroom. He’s such a great role model.”
“He’s definitely the biggest adult role model I have and he has helped me more in tennis but also in just growing up to be a better man.”
So far, the spring season has been good for the tennis team, who have donned their long shorts, shed their shirts and played on their home court a few times under relatively warm March temperatures.
The Section 8AA playoffs are scheduled to begin May 23 with state playoffs beginning June 7.
The team consists of Adam Stellmach, Aidan Persons, Andrew Schneider, Basil Ricker, Ben Fischbach, Billy Braun, Bo Scherbing, Brady Gruenhagen, Branden Roemer, Caleb Quernemoen, CJ Howard, Isaac Popp, Jackson Lefebvre, Jacob Lukkarila, John Crocker, Jonah Anderson, Jordan Bonsante, Jordan Ulbrich, Kenny Meyer, Logan Steffen, Lucas Dertinger, Noah Klinker, Travis Fischer and Tyler Lindquist.
