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For the first time in program history, the Chisago Lakes girls tennis team will be represented at the MSHSL State Tournament by both a singles player and a doubles team — a milestone moment in what’s already been a memorable season for the Wildcats.

This fall brought major changes for the team with the creation of a three-class system in Minnesota high school tennis. Chisago Lakes moved from Section 7AA to the  Section 4AA, joining Mahtomedi, Totino-Grace, St. Francis, St. Anthony, Columbia Heights, Brooklyn Center and Fridley.

The Wildcats defeated Fridley in the opening round of team play — their first section victory since 2020 — before falling to Totino-Grace in the second round. 

But the real excitement came during individual section play, where three athletes punched their tickets to state.

Sophomore Claire Beaver and junior Anna Hageman temed up as a formidable doubles team in the sections, and entered the tournament as the second overall seed. The pair cruised through their first two matches last Thursday, then kept the momentum going with a semifinal win over Totino-Grace. They ultimately fell to the top-seeded team from Mahtomedi, but their performance secured a spot at the state tournament since the draw meant there no true second match needed.

Meanwhile, ninth grader Claire Mickelson made an impressive run in singles play. Entering unseeded, Mickelson stormed through the bracket, winning her first two matches easily over opponents from Brooklyn Center and Totino-Grace before upsetting third seeded Addison Clancy of St. Francis in the semifinals. After a loss to Mahtomedi’s top seed, Lily Carlson, Mickelson faced a true second match against fourth seeded Lauren Traviss of Totino-Grace — a grueling three-set battle that Mickelson won to claim her place at state. She lost the first set 6-2 before rebounded to win 6-3, 7-5.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for our program,” said head coach Jon Erickson. “To have both a singles player and a doubles team qualify in the same year shows how hard these girls have worked.”

The MSHSL State Tournament begins Thursday, October 23, in Bloomington, where Mickelson, Beaver, and Hageman will represent Chisago Lakes on the biggest stage yet. The brackets for the tournament have not been released yet.

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