The Becker Bulldogs boys tennis team held a home opener last Saturday against Buffalo and Delano on a day where the temperatures were quite cool. But Coach Hokan Bengtson’s kids competed really well and fought through the cold and wound up stampeding the Bison and taming the Tigers in identical, 6-1 scores.
The first match was versus Buffalo. Singles swept in straight sets and Becker’s doubles players fought hard to win some closely contested tie breakers. The only match the Bulldogs dropped was a third set tiebreaker at #3 doubles.
Jacob Lukkarila beat Turner Marr (6-2, 6-1) at #1 singles, Brady Gruenhagen beat Logan Miller (6-1, 6-4) at #2 singles, Caden Elliot beat Gavin Wyatt (6-4, 6-4) at #3 singles and Zach Bengtson beat Patrick Lubben (6-2, 6-4) at #4 singles.
In doubles, Aidan Persons and Ryan Bengtson beat Luke Dahl and Moritz Simon (7-5, 7-6, 7-3) at #1 doubles, Luke Bordson and Eli Scheideman beat Taavi Larson and Levi Preugschas (7-6, 7-3, 6-4) at #2 doubles. In #3 doubles, Wyatt Hiltner and Isaac Boyer lost to Brian Miller and David Nunn (6-, 5-7, 5-7, 7-10).
In the second match of the day, Becker beat Delano.
“Singles players continued to shine winning in straight sets,” said Hokan. “Our doubles guys cleaned a few things up and won two of the three matches - dropping just the first doubles position.”
Lukkarila and Gruenhagen had no problem at #1 and #2 singles, beating Dylan Teig and Wyatt Schleif in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. At #3 singles, Elliot beat Austin Uecker, 6-3, 6-2. At #4 singles, Zach Bengtson beat Jonathan Kiusto, 6-3, 6-3.
At #1 doubles, Persons and Ryan Bengtson dropped the game to Reier Sjomeling and Nate Sladell, 6-3, 6-3. At # 2 doubles, Bordson and Scheideman beat Matthew Clark and Owen Dailey, 6-3, 6-0. At #3 doubles, Hiltner and Boyer beat Alex Pupp and Parker Sjomeling, 6-0, 6-2.
The Bulldogs are a mix of veteran players and young guys. Their top returners are Hokan’s three captains — Jacob Lukkarila, Brady Gruenhagen and Aidan Persons.
Lukkarila enters the season with a 73-16 career record, and one trip to the state tournament on his resume.
Gruenhagen is 64-13 for his career so far and will be a solid #2 singles player for the team.
Persons has played a few different spots, but will mostly play doubles this year. He is 24-15 for his career and has worked hard this offseason to get his game ready to compete at a high level.
Up Next
Becker plays Tuesday at Sartell H.S.
