'Cats best Vikings in early season match up

Chisago Lakes 7, North Branch 0 The North Branch and Chisago Lakes boys tennis programs are starkly contrasted right now. The numbers are vastly different as Chisago Lakes boasts nearly 70 kids in the program and North Branch has struggled to hit 20. The Wildcats were the North Suburban Conference co-champions last year while North Branch battled to stay out of the bottom of the standings. But, with a new year and some big changes to both lineups, North Branch was hoping they could even the score out with a victory in their early season match up for both squads on Monday, April 9. Chisago Lakes, however, still returns a ton of talent despite losing some top hitters, and they buzzed through North Branch with relative ease.

At first singles, Joe Turnquist of Chisago Lakes and Carl Fisk of North Branch squared off in what had the makings of a long match since both players have earned reputations as backboards that force opponents into mistakes. However, Turnquist capitalized early on some of Fisk’s mistakes and began to run away with the match as Fisk’s fell into a deep hole. Turnquist ended up on top, winning 6-1, 6-0. At second singles, experienced Wildcat Vinnie Gorski took on North Branch foreign exchange student Petar Kosovic. Kosovic, who hails from Serbia, has some unmatched power, but his finesse game still needs plenty of work and the wily and lanky Gorski captialized on that, placing shots all over the court and neutralizing Kosovic’s length and power. Gorski ended up taking the match in a lopsided score, affording the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

At third singles, Chisago Lakes eighth grader Blake Lizotte had his way with Jake Helbig. Lizotte spent a lot of time last season at fourth singles, and it really prepared him for a big season despite his small stature and young age. At fourth singles, Hogan Haas made quick work of his North Branch counterpart, Eric Chilstrom. At first doubles, Hogan Haas and his partner Mike Swanson bested the North Branch tandem of James Strzelecki and Cole Lee. The first set went fairly quickly, as Haas and Swanson won 6-1. In the second set, North Branch’s pair put up a bit more of a fight, keeping points close throughout en route to a 6-2 loss. At second and third doubles, both Wildcat tandems buzzed through their North Branch counterparts, completing the 7-0 sweep for the defending North Suburban Conference champs. The win put CL at 3-0 on the year with wins over Champlin Park and Fridley, and moved North Branch to 0-2 on the year with their previous loss coming to the same Fridley Tigers.