April 22, 2004 at 2:02 p.m.
A racket of a start-‘Cats start season with four wins
A racket of a start-‘Cats start season with four wins
Chisago Lakes 7
Monticello 0
Okay, so maybe the hype is justified.
In their first match of the season, the Wildcats disposed of Monticello in near-record time last Tuesday, defeating the Magic 7-0.
The match was short and sweet.
From top to bottom, the ‘Cats had few problems. Starting at number one singles, Philip Beitler picked up where he left off last season by winning his match of the year in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. From there, everything else fell into place. Junior Matt Peltier, freshman Joe Knafla, and senior Lars Haynes also picked up wins in singles play. Two of the three were won in straight sets.
As for doubles play, with Marcus Burgin absent, Steve Pieper paired up with Joe Thompson at number one doubles. The pair dominated play, picking up a 6-3, 6-4 win. Joe Schmitt and Georgi Gegeliia at number two doubles, and Alex Metzler and C.J Hoffman at number three doubles, also won their matches, also in straight sets.
“It was just a solid start to the season. I really liked our number two doubles team, Phil didn’t have a problem at number one singles. It was just a great team win,” said Derksen, Chisago Lakes head boys tennis coach. “Being my first season, I was told Monticello was going to be tough and we walloped them, so obviously I liked what I saw.”
Chisago Lakes 7
Monticello 0
Singles:
Beitler def. Borgerding 6-0, 6-0
Peltier def. Stoker 6-2, 6-1
Knafla def. Kotchevar 6-4,1-6, 6-4
Haynes def. Gilard 6-0, 6-0
Exhibition-
Moen def. Gilard 6-3, 6-1
Doubles:
Pieper/Thompson def.
Borgerding/McCartney 6-3, 6-4
Schmitt/Gegeliia def.
Bord/Hasslen 6-1, 6-1
Metzler/Hoffman def.
Kibber/Ewert 6-3, 6-2
Chisago Lakes 4
Foley 3
A win over Monticello is one thing, but a win over Foley is something totally different.
For example, it’s a conference match, and based on past history in the Rum River conference, Foley is always one of the teams to beat.
So when Chisago Lakes traveled to Falcon-ville last Thursday and bussed away with a 4-3 win, Derksen and company had plenty to smile about.
Freshman Joe Knafla had the biggest smile of them all. Down 3-2 in the match, Lars Haynes won 6-7, 6-4,6-3 at number three singles, meaning that the winner of number four singles would determine the winner of the match. After battling back to win a tie-breaker in the first set, Knafla took the match in three sets, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, handing the Wildcats the 4-3 win. Talk about drama.
“That was a very exciting, emotional match,” replied Derksen. “Lars came through to tie it 3-3, then Joe stepped up and won it. He was able to fight through it and and he got it for us. It was just a great way to end everything.”
Beitler, started everything with a win at number one singles. Throw in singles wins by Haynes and Peltier and the Wildcats took three of the four singles matches.
“I thought my doubles were going to be stronger, but they (Foley) swapped their doubles line-up around. They tried to stack their doubles line-up, take some of their better singles players and put them at doubles. It didn’t work for them.”
That’s because, although they didn’t know it at the time, Chisago needed one win at doubles to secure the win. That victory came from Steve Pieper and Marcus Burgin who were back together for the first time this season. Pieper and Burgin won their match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Chisago Lakes 4
Foley 3
Singles:
Beitler def. Herm 6-1, 6-2
Abfalter def. Peltier 2-6, 6-3, 1-6
Haynes def. Mclean 6-7, 6-4, 6-3
Knafla def. Dahlquist 7-6, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles:
Pieper/Burgin def.
Thorsness/Wojciechowske 6-2, 6-2
Maurer/Freudenberg def.
Schmitt/Thompson 3-6, 0-6
Marsh/Peterson def.
Metzler/Hoffman 2-6, 4-6
Chisago Lakes 5
Forest Lake 1
(Shortened due to rain)
Last Friday, with two wins under their belt, the ‘Cats added a 5-1 victory over Forest Lake. The match was called before its completion because of rain.
The one match that was not decided when the skies opened up was at number one singles. Tied 1-1, Philip Beitler led Luke Odegaard 4-3 in the third set before the match was called. It will go in the books as a tie.
Elsewhere, Matt Peltier picked up a straight set win at number two singles, as did Joe Knafla at number four singles.
In doubles play, the Wildcats won all three matches, all three in straight sets. Considering that the match was played without Joe Schmitt (sick) and with a sick Carl Hoffman, just to get out of there with a win was goal number one.
“I was expecting to win, but it went a lot longer than I expected. It was a two and a half hour match with the rain,” said Derksen. “We were dealing with some sickness and the guys were tired so some of the matches were a lot tighter than I thought they would be. Still, we played well considering how some of the guys were feeling.”
Chisago Lakes 5
Forest Lake 1
Singles:
Beitler tied Odegaard 4-6, 6-4
Peltier def. Carlson 6-0, 6-2
Sobiech def. Haynes
Knafla def. Kohler 6-2, 6-1
Doubles:
Pieper/Burgin def.
Peterson/Feist 7-6, 6-1
Thompson/Gegeliia def.
Gauanda/Cromwell 6-1, 6-1
Metzler/Hoffman def.
Steiner/Kling 7-6, 6-3
Chisago Lakes 7
Amery 0
Last Saturday, Chisago Lakes carried their momentum into their match with Amery, Wisconsin, defeating the Warriors 7-0.
Of the seven wins, all seven came in straight sets. In short, it was a short match which was what Derksen was looking for considering that Mahtomedi was scheduled next.
“It was a good warm-up for a long Saturday,” replied Derksen. “They have a very young team. We were supposed to win and we did. It was a nice confidence boost for everyone. Some kids had a half hour off before we played Mahtomedi so that was really nice.”
The win moved the ‘Cats season record to 4-0.
Chisago Lakes 7
Amery 0
Singles:
Beitler def. Uzeirovic 7-6, 6-2
Peltier def. Spanel 6-0, 6-0
Haynes def. Olson 7-5, 6-2
Knafla def. Kopp 6-3, 6-0
Doubles:
Pieper/Burgin def.
Vansomeren/Hardie 6-2, 6-3
Thompson/Gegeliia def.
Johnson/Pilic 6-0, 6-1
Metzler/Hoffman def.
Rogers/Novak 6-3, 6-4
Mahtomedi 4
Chisago Lakes 3
All good things must come to an end, and last Saturday it did- barely. Facing state-ranked Mahtomedi, the Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season 4-3.
Both number ones picked up victories for the Wildcats. At number one singles, Philip Beitler kept his undefeated record in tact with a straight set win, 6-4, 6-3, while at number one doubles, Steve Pieper and Marcus Burgin disposed of their opponents 6-1, 7-5.
In addition, Joe Knafla picked up another win at number four singles, winning 6-1, 6-3. However, the Zephyrs grabbed the rest of the matches to steal the win. At number two doubles, Joe Thompson and Georgi Gegeliia just missed a win, losing in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 3-6. That’s how close the ‘Cats were to another win.
“I went in thinking if we would’ve won one, I would’ve been impressed, but we won three,” said Derksen. “They( Mahtomedi) are a very strong team. We knew they were going to be tough.”
The loss dropped the ‘Cats record to 4-1, not a bad start to the season.
“I was told that this was going to be the year where everything comes together, but I wasn’t sure what to expect,” commented Derksen. “I always hope for the best and I like what I see. I guess the way everyone is looking at it is, based on the way we started, let’s keep it going. I definitely think this season is going to be a good one. Everyone is excited.”
That excitement will be put to the test this week as their schedule gets even tougher. Pine City, North Branch, and Anoka are on the way. The Wildcats will face the Vikings on Thursday in North Branch before traveling to Anoka on Friday.
Mahtomedi 4
Chisago Lakes 3
Singles:
Beitler def. Warda 6-4, 6-3
Fasoli def. Peltier 6-7, 4-6
Miclke def. Haynes 0-6, 4-6
Knafla def. Lowell 6-1, 6-3
Doubles:
Pieper/Burgin def.
Wallis/Newhouse 6-1, 7-5
Vedder/Cook def.
Thompson/Gegeliia 6-2, 4-6, 3-6
Meadows/Rudolph def.
Metzler/Hoffman 1-6, 2-6
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