VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Hi-Liner boys tennis team improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the EDC with a 7-2 win over West Fargo.
Valley City West Fargo
#1 Singles Blake Triebold beat Rishad Advani 6-1, 6-2
#2 Singles Collin White beat Ben Sikorski 6-1, 6-0
#3 Singles Austin Rogelstad lost to Ethan Heiden 6-2,4-6,6-3
#4 Singles Bennett Rogelstad lost to Sam Rouna 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
#5 Singles Derek Bear beat John Sikorski 6-2, 6-1
#6 Singles Seth Zeltinger beat Kasey Chase 6-2, 6-0
#1 Doubles Triebold and A.Rogelstad beat B.Sikorski and Advani 6-2, 6-1
#2 Doubles White and B.Rogelstad beat Rouna and Heiden 6-3, 7-6(4)
#3 Doubles Zeltinger and Kai Kringlie beat Chase and Kyler Haugen 6-2, 6-2
Thoughts:
We have improved so much in this season. Our practice effort is improved, our mental game, our strategy – everything.
At number one doubles, Austin was a beast. He closed the net extremely well and put every ball away that he could. On his groundstrokes, he attacked them which then set the point up for Blake to finish. I had a smile on the sideline watching them play. At number two doubles, Collin and Bennett won the first set and then found themselves down 5-2 in the second. I came out and talked to them. Collin gave me a stone look as I coached them and I thought what I said was for not. Collin though took everything we discussed and implemented. He and Bennett rallied from three games down to force and win the tiebreaker to win the match. Collin took his momentum and continued it in singles. He played a complete match in singles – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Collin has worked so hard in his six years of varsity and for him to break through like today is well deserved.
Austin and Bennett have bought into our team’s philosophy. They come to practice with intensity and work their tails off at every opportunity. This comes at a price though. The more sweat and pain you put into something, the more you want to see results. When the match isn’t going your way, it is very tough to continue to give best effort mentally and emotionally. When asked about the difference between top college players and professional players, Eric Butorac (a former player of Gustavus of which our philosophy is derived) replied that it was the ability of players to mentally detach themselves from the outcome of the match. If you could play the present point with best effort, the results will take care of themselves. Austin and Bennett have had big break throughs this season, the breakthrough that they are on the cusp of reaching now is that ability to play tennis regardless of the situation they find themselves.
Blake, Derek, Seth, and number three doubles all made short work of their matches. Blake is a solid #1 player. Also, we are very deep. The difference between our #1 player and our #7 player is not much. Derek and Seth in singles played smart matches cruising to victory. Seth and Kai also did the same in the doubles.
We are 4-0 for the first time in at least 14 years which is great. BUT – wins aren’t everything, the development of our team and each person on and off the court is most important. If we play the game right, with the right attitude, with the right preparation – then the results take care of themselves. If our athletes can play the game right, with the right attitude, with the right preparation – our student-athletes will be ready to be successful after high school. I’m proud of the strides we have taken as a team in our preparation, mental game, and attitude. They believe in each other and themselves. They are fantastic young men that I have the privilege to work with. It was a great day to be a Hi-Liner!
Next action is Tuesday at home against Fargo North at 4pm.