Friday, March 29th, 2024 Church Directory
Captain Luke Bordson goes to his back hand to return a volley in the Bulldogs season opening matches last Saturday (submitted photo).

Bulldog tennis makes statement in early wins

If their first competition was a sign of things to come, the Becker Bulldog boys tennis team made a solid statement that they are a force to be reckoned with as they opened the season last Saturday with three impressive wins.

In the opener, Becker knocked off M8 Conference foe Buffalo by a score of 5-2.

“We had many close matches that could have gone either way, but our guys really showed some grit and fought through the early season nerves to get some big wins,” Coach Hokan Bengtson said.   “We had five of our players playing in their first varsity action and they did not disappoint!”

Picking up wins for Becker were #1 singles Zach Bengtson (7-5, 6-3) and #4 singles 7th grader Troy Nuest (6-4, 7-6, 9-7).

In doubles action, the Bulldogs swept the three matches: #1 doubles Ryan Bengtson and Eli Scheideman (4-6, 7-5, 13-11); #2 doubles Wyatt Hiltner and Nick Gruber (6-3, 7-5); #3 doubles Landon Peterson and Sawyer Brown (6-2,6-3).

Warriors

Next up was Brainerd, a Section 8AA opponent who Bengtson says are always a team with a deep line-up, and again the Bulldogs were victorious 5-2.

“Our #1 doubles team of Ryan Bengtson and Eli Scheideman were dominant in this match winning 6-0, 6-0,” Bengtson said.  “That really set the tone for our team.”

In singles play, #2 Luke Bordson picked up a win (6-2, 2-6, 10-7) while Nuest won (9-7, 6-2).

Again, it was a clean sweep for the Bulldogs in the doubles matches with Bengtson and Scheideman (6-0, 6-0), Hiltner and Gruber (7-5, 6-1) and the 7th graders, Peterson and Brown (6-2, 6-3) picking up wins.

Tigers

In the final match, Becker used its momentum to dismantle Delano by a score of 6-1.

“The 3rd match today was the first one where our kids began to settle in at many positions and took control,” Bengtson said.  “Luke and Zach at #1 and #2 singles really showed why they have risen to the top of the line-up.  They were poised and focused as they worked their way through this match.”

In singles matches, Bengtson was a 6-4, 6-1 winner, while #2 Bordson won 6-2, 6-1.  Nuest remained unbeaten on the day with a 6-0, 6-4 win at #4 singles.

The doubles teams were again a perfect 3-0, with Bengtson/Scheideman (6-2, 7-5), Hiltner/Gruber (6-1, 7-5) and Peterson/Brown (6-1, 6-0) each winning their matches.

The wins put Becker at 3-0 for the season.  Tuesday’s matchup with St. Francis was postponed and will be made up at a future date.