The Becker Bulldog boys tennis team kicked off their 2017 season with a home invitational with Buffalo, Brainerd and Delano.

 

“Our singles players played really well today, “ said Head Coach Hokan Bengtson. “They finished 11-1 overall,  only dropping one match to the reigning Section 8AA Champion from Brainerd.”  

 

Jacob Lukkarila, Tyler Lindquist and Daniel Garcia got wins in singles play. Becker’s #2 doubles team went to three sets before falling to Brainerd’s #1 doubles team.

 

#1 singles - Branden Roemer (BB) lost to Tanner Lundberg (BW) 1-6, 0-6; #2 singles - Lukkarila (BB) beat Patrick Meyer (BW), 6-0, 6-2; #3 singles - Lindquist (BB) beat Patrick Moraghan (BW), 6-2, 6-1; #4 singles - Garcia (BB) beat Keenan Hodge (BW), 6-2, 6-0.

 

#1 doubles - Howard and Schneider (BB) lost to Travis Goeden and Garrett Goeden (BW), 6-4, 5-7, 8-10; #2 doubles - Johnny Crocker and Brady Gruenhagen (BB) lost to Nathan Rud and Steven Low (BW), 5-7, 3-6; #3 doubles - Caleb Quernemoen and Aidan Persons (BB) lost to Matt Hintz and Ian Aadland (BW), 2-6, 4-6.

 

Bengtson said many of his guys showed poise and focus as they executed the strategies they had set out before the match.  

 

Becker’s only loss came at #1 doubles.

 

#1 singles - Roemer (BB) beat Nick Immel (BB), 6-0, 6-3; #2 singles - Lukkarila (BB) beat Turner Maye (BB), 6-0, 6-0; #3 singles - Lindquist (BB) beat Luke Dahl (BB), 6-0, 6-2; #4 singles - Garcia (BB) beat Saami Larson (BB), 6-0, 6-1.

 

#1 doubles - Howard and Schneider (BB) lost to Cade Stensby and Stone Goodmanson (BB), 2-6, 6-3, 8-10; #2 doubles - Crocker and Gruenhagen (BB) beat Josh Skarin and Bobby Brady (BB), 6-2, 6-1; #3 doubles - Quernemoen and Persons (BB) beat Hunter Fasching and Jack Stonecipher (BB), 6-0, 6-0.

 

The only loss for the Bulldogs was at #1 doubles.

 

#1 singles - Roemer (BB) beat Immy Johnson (DT), 5-7, 6-2, 10-2; #2 singles - Lukkarila (BB) beat Reier Sjomeling (DT), 6-2, 6-1; #3 singles - Lindquist (BB) beat Cole Vosper (DT), 6-2, 6-0; #4 singles - Garcia (BB) beat Terron O’Neill (DT), 6-0, 6-1.

 

#1 doubles - Howard and Schneider (BB) lost to Noah Schmidt and Tanner Johnson (DT), 4-6, 6-3, 8-10; #2 doubles - Crocker and Gruenhagen (BB) beat Ray Leonard and Trey longstreet (DT), 6-3, 6-1; #3 doubles - Quernemoen and Persons (BB) beat Matt Clark and Wyatt Schleif (DT), 6-0, 6-1.

 

After just five practices leading up to their opening matches, Bengtson said he was excited about the potential of this group. 

 

“We have things to work on — with five matches this week,” he said. “There will be plenty of time to get better.”  

 

Tuesday, the Bulldogs traveled to Sartell to take on the Sabres and the boys from Becker put on quite a show as they won, 7-0.

 

“We started to put it together today in our match at Sartell,” said Bengtson.   “The doubles teams were more active and much more consistent in their attack.  Our singles players played very well also.” 

Bengtson said the match was highlighted by a third-set victory at number three singles.

 

“Tyler had rough start to the match but just continued to play better and better as it went on and showed some excellent senior leadership and mental toughness,” said Bengtson.

 

#1 singles - Roemer (BB) beat Eric Minnerath (SS), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); #2 singles - Lukkarila (BB) beat Kyle Harthan (SS), 6-0, 6-0; #3 singles - Lindquist (BB) beat Max Fesenmaier (SS), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2; #4 singles - Garcia (BB) beat Yash Hindka (SS), 6-2, 6-1.

 

#1 doubles - Howard and Gruenhagen (BB) beat Thomas Connolly and Eddie Hamilton (SS), 6-1, 6-2; #2 doubles - Quernemoen and Jordan Bonsante (BB) beat Lawton Miller and Tommy Pincerton (SS), 6-0. 6-2; #3 doubles - Schneider and Persons (BB) beat Jacob Ringstad and Mo Alkhatib (SS), 6-4, 6-1.

 

The Bulldogs  hosted Monticello Thursday (full report on match in next week’s Citizen-Tribune).