This year, they want something just a little bit different.

 

They want to win it.

 

“We’re so close and I really think this year’s team has the most potential,” said Head Coach Hokan Bengtson. “Our goal is to stay consistent throughout the season and bring our best each and every match. We so want to win sections this year.”

 

Bengtson’s teams have always given opposing teams fits. His depth in singles and doubles and the willingness of all his players to move from spot-to-spot makes his job that much more delightful.

 

“Our freshman are really playing well and our four seniors will contribute nicely to our varsity squad as we put the pieces together on building the best team,” Bengtson said.

 

Twenty-nine boys are vying for spots on varsity and junior varsity and 16 at the junior high level. Bengtson has Rob Olson and Todd Brown returning as assistants as well as  David Lundeen to help with the youth. The student manager is Ashley Souba.

 

The #1 doubles team of last year — Erik Tungland and Brett Hultgren — lost one of the two (Hultgren) but Tungland has a new partner in C.J. Howard, a freshman.

 

“He has a lot of potential and is definitely #1 material,” said Tungland of Howard. 

 

Bengtson chose senior Tungland and juniors Dawson Brown and Austin Hill as team captains on a team that  continues to develop great, young stars.

 

“These kids have worked hard all year and most have played tennis in some fashion in the off-season,” said the head coach. “They are a great group of dedicated kids.”

 

Hill, Brown and Tungland say they love the game of tennis because it not only showcases the athletic talents, but also characterizes the player’s mental side to the game.

 

“Focus is so important to this game and keeping your mind sharp and zeroed-in, that can be the edge you are looking for over your opponent,” said Hill.

 

Becker’s #1 singles player, Jason Dilly, could be out of the lineup for a while with what looks like a stress fracture in his arm. Bengtson plans to move his #2, 3 and 4 singles players up a spot and see who is ready among the younger players to step and fill a void.

 

“This kind of thing is sad for Jason, sad for us a team but all we can do is move foreward,” said Bengtson. “What it creates for us is a chance to build our depth.”

 

Brown will move from #2 singles to #1 while Dilly recuperates over the next few weeks.

 

“I’m comfortable playing at #1, in fact I played there a few times last year,” said Brown. “I’ve also played against Jason in practices and that kind of thing has really helped me to play some of the best.”

 

The team consists of Adam Stellmach, Allen Volk, Andrew Schneider, Armas Yuhala, Austin Hill, Branden Roemer, Brody Hed, Carter Garding, C.J. Howard, Collin McDowell, Dawson Brown, Dylan Sakry, Erik Tungland, Ethan Quill, Fedor Guchikov, Isaac Popp, Jack Spinner, Jackson Lefebvre, Jake Doetcott, Jarod Wilken, Jason Dilly, Joe Gudim, Joey Kragness, John Crocker, Jonah Kollman, Jordan Bonsante, Josh Duke, Josiah Borst, Mason Platz, Mitchell Johnston, Noah Johnson, Noah Klinker, Ryan Good, Sam Leaf, Tommy Haugen and Tyler Lindquist.

 

 

Tuesday was Becker’s first outdoor match of the season and the team responded well.  Monticello has always had a nice tradition of tennis and are well coached, so this was a good test for the Bulldogs and they impressed.  

 

“Dawson played extremely well beating a senior who played #1 singles last year for Monticello,” said Bengtson.

 

“Erik (Tungland) and CJ (Howard) played really well at #1 doubles and they are starting to come together and gel as a team,” Bengtson continued.  “Our #2 doubles team of (Joe) Gudim and (Josh) Duke fought hard and played a tough match, showing some mental toughness and discipline to win a tight first set tiebreaker and go on to close out a tough second set.”  

 

Bengtson said he and his players are still are working to do the little things right every time they play and to improve their footwork and execution of shots consistently.

 

Results: #1 singles: Brown (BB) over Erik Hammill (MM), 6-0, 6-2; #2 singles: Hill (BB) over Levi Biasco (MM), 7-5, 6-3; #3 singles: Josiah Borst (BB) over Ryan Nitz (MM), 6-2, 6-0; #4 singles: Jackson Lefebvre (BB) over Dylan Fyle (MM), 6-3, 6-3.

 

#1 doubles: Tungland/Howard (BB) over Cole Giumont/Chase Olson (MM), 6-1, 6-0; #2 doubles: Joe Gudim/Josh Duke (BB) over Logan Bican/Trevor Bautch (MM), 7-6 (13-11), 6-4; #3 doubles: Branden Roemer/Tyler Lindquist (BB) over Teryn Eckes/Charlie Phillips (MM), 6-4, 6-1.

 

 

Thursday, the Bulldogs hosted their first home Granite Ridge Conference match against Mora and swept the match.

 

“This was a difficult match to stay focused,” said Bengtson. “I was impressed with the maturity my guys showed today.  There were a lot of distractions, with the wind, many fans, and the new facility. They overcame that and played excellent tennis.”

 

Brown, Hill and Lefebvre in singles and the duos of Gudim/Duke and Roemer/Lindquist in doubles all swept their matches, 6-0, 6-0. Borst was 6-0, 6-1 and the #1 doubles team of Tungland/Howard went 6-1, 6-0.

 

The Bulldogs are now 5-0 overall, 2-0 versus section opponents and 1-0 in conference play.