Boys Tennis: Section singles champion returns for Warriors

Brainerd Warrior junior Tanner Lundberg hits during practice this week at the Brainerd High School courts. Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch

By Michael Bialka

March 30, 2017 at 10:42 PM

Brainerd Warriors

Head coach: Bruce Thompson, 21st year

Career record: 192-128 (.600)

2016 record: CLC 10-2, overall 17-4

Captains: Patrick Meyer, Travis Goeden

Assistant coaches: Chuck Whalen, Dan Egan

As a sophomore, Tanner Lundberg won North Subsection 8-2A and Section 8-2A championships on his way to victories in 29 of 33 matches.

Two of his losses were in the Class 2A state tournament where he lost to Conner Olsen of Orono and Spencer Wick of Mahtomedi. He was the first Warrior to qualify for state in singles since 2002.

Lundberg will be favored to repeat as champion since some of the section's top singles players from a year ago have graduated. Warriors coach Bruce Thompson believes if Lundberg continues to improve his serving and ground strokes, he can get back to state.

"We got beat up at the state tournament a little bit because those guys are powerful," Thompson said. "We ran into the next level of tennis at the state tournament. We need to pick up our game on the power side of it, and he's done that. I threw him into some doubles Tuesday to do some drills with guys and he was hitting some shots. He's hitting the ball really well.

"Tanner has worked on his game over the summer and did some winter drills. He has to be able to compete at the next level-that's one of our goals. I am seeing that improvement in his game in just the few practices we have had.

"He's got the best hands in terms of placement, taking the ball out of the air, that we've seen in a long time. He really does play the game well."

Lundberg is one of five Warriors returning from the team that lost to Willmar in the section semifinals and finished 17-4 overall. He, Patrick Meyer and Jacob Hodge return in singles and Travis and Garrett Goeden are back in doubles.

Meyer was the subsection singles runner-up after playing No. 2 during the season. He finished fourth in the section and ended his season with a 13-16 mark. Jacob Hodge finished 16-4. The Goedens were subsection doubles runners-up with partners who have graduated.

Thompson said potential singles players in addition to Lundberg, Meyer and Jacob Hodge are Keenan Hodge, Ian Anderson, Patrick Moraghan, Matt Hintz and Cam Cooper.

In addition to the Goedens, potential doubles players are Theo Knudson, Dylan McLain, Steven Low, Nathan Rud and Tanner Clink.

The Warriors will have only five practices before opening the season Saturday at the Becker Invitational. After facing a rebuilding Fergus Falls program only once this season, Thompson has added the Becker Invite to his schedule.

"I know we're not going to be ready because we've got a couple varsity guys who will not be able to be there," he said. "I wanted to add an event and this popped up.

"The best thing about it is we're playing Becker, Delano and Buffalo, then we're going to Buffalo later on for another quadrangular. The benefit is, having 44 kids, we'll get 30 of those kids playing somewhere this weekend.

"It's been wonderful to be outside. To be outside Monday and Tuesday with some sunshine was nice. We're maybe feeling a little bit rushed, but the following week we're pretty open so we'll get a lot more done. Going into our first conference match against Fergus Falls (April 11) we'll be OK."

Thompson expects the Warriors to be in the thick of conference and section championship races.

"We've got the section champ at singles, we've got Patrick Meyer at No. 2 singles, with Hodge and Hodge maybe down the road we'll have strong singles," Thompson said. "We have to find stability in our doubles, put the right combinations together with our doubles teams. I think we're going to be a very nice team when it comes down to the end of the season."

Roster

Seniors: Tanner Clink, Oscar Gammollo, Theo Knudson, Claude Lee, Dylan McLain, Patrick Meyer, Travis Schultz, Miguel Vale, Travis Goeden

Juniors: Thomas Anakkala, Camden Cooper, Taylor George, Matt Hintz, Jacob Hodge, Tanner Lundberg, Alex Moriarty, Nathan Rud, Nick Stout

Sophomores: Gavin Andres, Riley Andres, Wyatt Andres, Noah Blum, Brant Dabill, Garrett Goeden, Clay Jambor, Oliver Knudson, Jacob Mitchell, Layton Rivard

Freshmen: Ian Aadland, Jack Anderson, Westin Andres, Devin Emslander, Keenan Hodge, Tennyson Kelm, Andrew Kirzeder, Steven Low, Luke Meyer, Dylan Miller, Patrick Monaghan, Sean Paulus, Trey Pike, Logan Severson, Noah Spitzley

Schedule

April 1, at Becker Invitational 9 a.m.

April 11, at Fergus Falls 4:30 p.m.

April 13, Willmar 4:30 p.m.

April 18, St. Cloud Tech 4:30 p.m.

April 21, at Moorhead 4:30 p.m.

April 25, Bemidji 4 p.m.

April ??, vs. Apollo/Sauk Rapids at St. Cloud Apollo 4:30 p.m.

April 27, Alexandria 4:30 p.m.

April 28, at Willmar 4:30 p.m.

April 29, at Buffalo Invitational 10 a.m.

May 2, at Sartell 4:30 p.m.