Jacob Lukkarila took second place and Brady took fourth place in the Section 8AA individual tennis tournament Friday at Sta Fit in Sartell.  The top two players in the section make the state tournament, June 6-7 at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center.  Lukkarila would need to win four matches to be crowned a state champion.

 

“It is remarkable to have two players reach this level in a section of 11 schools,” said Becker Head Coach Hokan Bengtson.  “Brady (Gruenhagen) and Jacob have had amazing seasons!” 

 

Gruenhagen finished the year with a remarkable record of 21-7. He had a terrific career, notching an 85-20 overall record.  

 

“That is over 80% winning percentage for his career, which is tremendous,” said Bengtson.

 

Lukkarila earned his 100th win Friday, only the second player in program history to do that (Dawson Brown was the other - 138)  Lukkarila will play in the state tournament for the second time in his career, (as a 10th grader he went 1-1).  He is currently 27-1 on the season.

 

In round one of sections, Lukkarila faced off against JJ Foster of Alexandria and beat him 6-0, 6-1. Gruenhagen beat his opponent, Brycen Lunak of Moorhead, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in his first round match.

 

In round two, Lukkarila knicked off Spencer Konecne of Bemidji by 6-4, 6-2 scores while Gruenhagen fell to Patrick Moraghan of Brainerd by 6-0, 6-2 scores.

 

Lukkarila faced Moraghan in the final, but lost 6-7 (3-7), 3-6 to capture second place. Gruenhagen battled Konecne in the third place match and lost 6-2, 6-1 to capture fourth.