The EDC regional tournament was held in Fargo on Thursday through Saturday.  The team competition was Thursday while individuals was Friday and Saturday.  VC went two and out against Grand Forks Central and Fargo North.  Valley City had several great matches in the individual competition, but failed to qualify any individuals for the state tournament.

First Round:

VC 0

GFC 5

Singles:

1.  Gary Wu (GFC) defeated Derek Bear (VC) 6-0, 6-1

2.  Logan Sandberg (GFC) defeated Bennett Rogelstad (VC) 6-0, 6-0

3.  Ryder McDonald (GFC) defeated Kai Kringlie (VC) 6-0, 6-0

1.  Braden Panzer/Chase Spicer (GFC) defeated Blake Triebold/Seth Zeltinger (VC) 6-4, 7-5

2.  Kyle Stauss/Evan Panzer (GFC) defeated Austin Rogelstad/Collin White (VC) 6-2, 6-3

Consolation Round:

VC 2

FN 3

Singles:

1.  Michael Hallquist (FN) defeated Blake Triebold (VC) 6-3, 6-4

2.  Jacob Shelver (FN) defeated Derek Bear (VC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

3.  Brett Skeldum (FN) defeated Bennett Rogelstad (VC) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles:

1.  Austin Rogelstad/Collin White (VC) defeated Mitchell Dummer/Ryan Kennelly (FN) 5-7, 7-6(3), (12-10)

2.  Seth Zeltinger/Kai Kringlie (VC) defeated Jarson Dufault/Nick Crommett (FN) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

Individuals for VC:

Derek Bear

Lost to Kyle Stauss (GFC) 6-3, 6-1

Lost to Miles Ulschmid (FS) 7-5, 6-2

Bennett Rogelstad

Defeated Aaron Bohn (W) 6-4, 6-1

Lost to Koby Kuenzel (RR) 6-1, 6-2

Lost to Kamden Coles (SHEY) 6-1, 7-6(3)

Kai Kringlie

Defeated Drew Sperle (SHEY) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Lost to Kaden Johnson (RR) 6-0, 6-0

Lost to Tyler Anderson (SH) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

Collin White/Austin Rogelstad

Defeated X.Hasbargen/D.Fleming (FD) 6-3, 6-1

Lost to G.Youngs/M.Olson (FS) 6-0, 6-2

Lost to B.Triebold/S.Zeltinger (VC) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1

Blake Triebold/Seth Zeltinger

Lost to J.Wuitschick/J.Wanzek (FD) 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1

Defeated S.Rouna/B.Sikorski (WF) 6-2, 6-3

Defeated C.White/A.Rogelstad (VC) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1

Lost to S.Kuenzel/J.Weis (RR) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

Thoughts:

After winning the most team matches in 15 years, we had a rough regional weekend.  In the team competition, we had the correct line-up against Fargo North and we came up one win short of making the state qualifying match.  Against Fargo North, Collin and Austin faced two match points before winning the final three to take the match in a super tiebreaker.  Seth and Kai started slow, but came back to win the last two sets.  In singles, we had a shot at all three singles matches.  Everyone gave it their best, but we just came up short as a team.  It was a tough loss, but that can’t take away what we accomplished this season as a team.  Great team season fellas!

In the individual tournament, we played the first two rounds of the singles draw outside on a cold, windy day.  Derek competed very well (in his stocking cap!) but lost out in two against two tough players.  Bennett went 1-1 outside before moving inside.  Against Kamden, Bennett played beautiful tennis.  He was moving the ball around, picking on his opponents backhand, and coming to the net at the right times and finishing points.  I couldn’t be prouder of how he played.  Excellent work.

Kai also went 1-1 outside winning a three set match.  Moving inside, he played Shanley’s #4 player that creamed our #4 player in the regular season.  Kai came out on fire with excellent footwork and took the first set.  Kai continued to play well in the second and third as his opponent upped his game.  Kai was playing patient, consistent, with good footwork and decision making.  It was a fun match to watch.  Nice job Kai!

Collin and Austin came out hot against Fargo Davies.  They dismantled that Davies team in short order.  Those Davies kids were good too – they had match points to qualify for state on the back side of the draw!  In their next match, Collin and Austin took it to the Fargo South team that went on to win the EDC championship. Our players played loose as we crushed balls and played to win.  We kept playing hard no matter the score.  It was fun to watch!

Seth and Blake played a Fargo Davies team that was very solid – they went onto the consolation finals in the doubles draw.  In that match, Fargo Davies figured out their returns and lobs in the second and third set.  As they were more consistent than us, they won the match.  On the consolation side, we played a West Fargo team and Seth and Blake took care of business to make it to the second round of consolation.

In the match to make the state qualifier, our two Valley City teams faced off.  That is the ugliness of the individual tournament as players from the same team might have to face off.  In the match, Collin and Austin came out again on fire.  They won the first set 6-3.  They stayed up in the second set and got up 5-4 deuce and had a match point to win.  Seth and Blake saved that match point which then sparked them and then they upped their game to finish that set and the match.  Collin and Austin played a heck of a tournament and they finished their careers playing some great tennis in the end.  These two along with Bennett have been practicing and playing varsity for five or six years.  These guys have worked hard and did everything the team asked of them.  It is always a sad day when seniors play their final match.  You three have improved Hi-Liner tennis and leave a legacy of teamwork and work ethic.  Thank you.

In the state qualifier, we played a team that took the #2 seed to three sets the day before.  After losing the first set with many deuces, we came out and attacked in the second set.  By attacking, we won the set 7-5.  The third set was back and forth.  We were up 3-2.  We were down 4-3.  We were up 5-4.  It was a seesaw battle and very intense with every game seemingly going to deuce.  Up 5-4, we had a match point at deuce but couldn’t capitalize.  Down 6-5, we saved a match point at 40-30 to set up another match point deuce, this time for Red River.  Red River played excellent defense on that point, getting back two overheads before we winning the point and the match.  Valley had the toughest road to state qualifying (both teams) and we came up short.

Six team wins.  A winning record at the West Fargo Invite.  The best individual match team winning percentage.  All in the year that the EDC was the best it has every been #1-7 on each team.  Every match at regionals was high quality no matter the position.  Former assistant Don Schaack said it best when we played the EDC champion in Red River – “We are competitive in every spot, every match.”  High school athletics is about development of our young adults.  By being competitive in every match, our student-athletes were always learning determination, perseverance, patience, teamwork, and resilience.  It was a great season!

I LOVE being a Hi-Liner!

Coach Nielson