Adam Cook and Dan Burke have already made Aitkin history and they'll look to make more Thursday.
The seniors will be the first Gobblers to play in the Class 1A state boys' tennis tournament, which starts 10 a.m. Thursday at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis. The duo will battle Tim Roos-Danny Penaredondo of Worthington.
Staples-Motley's doubles team of Mike Lindaman-Jordan Peterson also will open state play at 10 a.m. Thursday against Matt Kreuch-Diego Federsffield of Luverne.
Adam Cook
Cook-Burke are 7-1 as a doubles team. They finished second in the Section 7-1A tournament after falling to Brian Villa-Nico Sacchetti of Virginia, who finished sixth at state last year. The Aitkin duo mainly played singles during the regular season, but Gobblers coach Joe Walz believes his team is hitting its doubles stride.
"They're as prepared as they're going to be," said Walz. "They're playing really good doubles and working well as a team. They've made that transition from singles to doubles. It's not always easy, but they both understand the game well. Their movement has really improved.
"They had the strokes and the serves, but now they have the doubles movement that is so critical to doing well at the state level."
Dan Burke
Lindaman-Peterson won the Section 6-1A title by defeating Foley's Eric Herm-Nick Jansen 6-2, 6-1.
Peterson was the No. 1 singles player for the Cardinals with Lindaman at No. 2 singles. The two first hooked up at the Brainerd Invitational before the section tournament.
"Mike, in the past, has played a lot of doubles for us," said S-M coach Kevin Coughlin. "He has the stronger doubles game. He is outstanding at the net and can cover a lot of the court because he is so long.
"Jordan is stronger at singles, but both of them are very good competitors. They have pretty good heads and a quiet focus."
Class 1A state tennis tournament
Who: Aitkin's Adam Cook-Dan Burke, Staples-Motley's Mike Lindaman-Jordan Peterson
When: Opening round of doubles 10 a.m. Thursday
Where: Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center, Minneapolis
Coughlin said Federsffield played No. 2 singles for Luverne, while Kreuch was a doubles player.
Despite being the first trip for both Cardinals, Coughlin was confident in his paring.
"With the first state experience, I've had too many players on both my boys' and girls' teams who you watch down here and ask yourself, 'Who are you?'" said Coughlin. "Both have played enough tennis and we're treating this like just another summer tournament."
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.
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