The Becker boys tennis team is heating up, winning five of their first six matches for the year and improving to 5-1. Saturday, they traveled to Alexandria to play in a quadrangular against the Cardinals, Crookston and Litchfield.

 

In Becker’s first competition of the day, they took on Crookston, a team that finished fourth in state last year and had zero graduates.

 

The highlight of the day came at #1 doubles where Becker’s CJ Howard and Jacob Lukkarila came back from a 3-6 loss in the first set only to win the second at 6-4 then win an epic battle in the third set by a 17-15 score.

 

Other winners for Becker were Tyler Lindquist at #3 singles and Brady Gruenhagen at #4 singles.

 

Results: #1 singles: Jackson Lefebvre (BB) lost 6-3, 1-6, 6-10 to Bobby Tiedmann (CP); #2 singles: Brandon Roemer (BB) lost 6-2, 4-6, 8-10 to Andy Gregg (CP); #3 singles: Lindquist (BB) won 6-3, 6-1 over Matt Garmen (CP); #4 singles: Gruenhagen (BB) won 7-5, 6-2 over Jordan Bengtson (CP).

 

#1 doubles: Howard and Lukkarila (BB) won 3-6, 6-4, 17-15 over Elijah Phaiah and Jake Roesch (CP); #2 doubles: Johnny Crocker and Caleb Quernemoen (BB) lost 2-6. 0-6 to Ian Johnson and Nic Garmen (CP); #3 doubles: Isaac Popp and Aidan Persons (BB) lost 4-6, 2-6 to Mitch Olson and Jake Kidscth (CP).

 

Becker’s second match of the day was another great battle as the Bulldogs prevailed by one.

 

“They’re a really well-coached team that is filled with great athletes,” said Becker Head Coach Hokan Bengtson of his rival. “The most impressive win for us was at number two doubles.”

 

Bengtson was referring to Crocker and Quernemoen, who battled long and hard to pull out a three-set win after losing the first set.

 

#1 singles: Lefebvre (BB) lost 0-6, 2-6 to Josh Prahl (LD); #2 singles: Roemer (BB) lost 5-7, 0-6 to Ben Haugo (LD); #3 singles: Lindquist (BB) won 6-2, 6-2 over Trevor Meyer (LD); #4 singles: Gruenhagen (BB) won 6-2, 6-1 over Matt Wedin (LD).

 

#1 doubles: Howard and Lukkarila (BB) won 6-0, 6-4 over Jared Peterson and Jordan Green (LD); #2 doubles: Crocker and  Quernemoen (BB) won 1-6, 6-3, 10-7 over Jonny Madsen and Zach Kaiser (LD); #3 doubles: Popp and Persons (BB) lost 4-6, 6-7, 5-7 to Peyton Aller and Andrew Fisher (LD).

 

In the third match of the day, Becker’s #3 doubles team came back to win a tough battle and help them secure a 6-1 victory.

 

#1 singles: Lefebvre (BB) won 6-0, 6-1 over Devlin Vangaal (AC); #2 singles: Roemer (BB) won 6-1, 6-2 over Devein (AC); #3 singles: Lindquist (BB) won 6-1, 6-2 over Matt Vogel (AC); #4 singles: Gruenhagen (BB) won 6-3, 6-1 over Alex Jost (AC).

 

#1 doubles: Howard and Lukkarila (BB) lost 4-6, 5-7 to Devon Crowe and Graham Hegstad (AC); #2 doubles: Crocker and  Quernemoen (BB) won 6-3, 6-2 over Grant Storm and Broderick Nelson (AC); #3 doubles: Popp and Persons (BB) won 2-6, 7-5, 10-7 over Derek Berning and Owen Myhr (AC).

 

Thursday, Becker traveled to Mora to take on the Mustangs.

 

“We played really well in singles today,” said Bengtson. “I was very impressed with the focus of those four guys not dropping a single game.”

 

He was also pleased with his doubles teams, who played well too, especially the #1 doubles tandem of Howard and Lukkarila.  

 

Results:#1 singles: Lefebvre (BB) won 6-0, 6-0 over Blake Nosbush (MM); #2 singles: Lindquist (BB) won 6-0, 6-0 over Micah Reynolds (MM); #3 singles: Roemer (BB) won 6-0, 6-0 over Erik Moe (MM); #4 singles: Gruenhagen (BB) won 6-0, 6-0  over Isaac Ladino (MM).

 

#1 doubles: Howard and Lukkarila (BB) won 6-0, 6-1 over Nick Madison and Wilson Krueger (MM); #2 doubles: Crocker and  Quernemoen (BB) won 6-2, 6-1 over Max Krueger and Isaac Balmer (MM); #3 doubles: Popp and Persons (BB) won 6-2, 6-2 over Luke Zumwalt and Isaac Armstrong (MM).

 

Becker moves to 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in the conference.

 

Monday, Becker travels to Sartell and Thursday they host Foley, Friday they host Thief River Falls and Saturday participate in an Elk River Tournament.