After five straight seasons atop Minnesota Section 8A boys tennis, Thief River Falls looked vulnerable entering this season.
The Prowlers returned only four starters from last season's team that finished fourth at the state tournament. Youth abounded in the lineup, with only two seniors and one junior amongst the 10 regulars. Yet, Thief River Falls is heading for its sixth consecutive state dual tournament, beating East Grand Forks Senior High 6-1 in the 8A championship.
"This was the year where we had question marks," veteran TRF coach Corey Thorson said. "With this young a team, you never know what will happen. But they've played very well."
The Prowlers' singles lineup has consisted of sophomore Connor Hutton at No. 1, sophomore Beezer Skime at No. 2, eighth-grader Logan Engelstad at No. 3 and junior Stephen Bates at No. 4.
At doubles has been seniors J.D. Robson and Parker Nessen at No. 1, sophomores Micah Rodahl and Ben Olson at No. 2 and, at No. 3, sophomore Josh Koop and seventh-grader Jorde Hutton.
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Skime paces the team with 25 wins.
"We don't have a dominant No. 1 like a Jacob Engelstad or a Justin Pyle, guys who played No. 1 for us the last five years," Thorson said. "But our depth is excellent. It's as deep as any team I've had here. We knew we'd have to win with our depth."
The 8A individual tournament reflects that depth.
While Thief River Falls will represent the section at the state dual tournament, the Prowlers will have only one entrant in the individual tournament.
Skime was runner-up in 8A singles, losing to Crookston's Jake Thompson in the championship. In doubles, East Grand Forks Senior High's Alex Spitsberg and Jake Greenwood beat Crookston's Carter Denison and Nic Biermaier in the section final.
Thief River Falls takes a 16-3 record to state, with all three losses to Class AA teams. The Prowlers have a tough quarterfinal draw, meeting a Rochester Lourdes team that has most of its regulars back from last season's state runner-up team.
"So much has to do with the draw once you get to state," said Thorson, whose team has been fourth at state each of the past two seasons. "I know it would take something special for us to beat Lourdes. But these guys have surprised me all year long."
The state dual tournament will be held Tuesday and Wednesday in the Twin Cities, with the state singles and doubles tournaments beginning next Thursday.
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Finley-Sharon honors Babinski
Virgil Babinski has never been a head coach at Finley-Sharon. But the school has named its gymnasium Babinski Gymnasium in his honor.
The 65-year-old Babinski is retiring after 40 years at the school. He's been athletic director since the 1989-90 school year, also serving as a teacher, elementary principal and was an elementary basketball coach for approximately 20 years.
"We thought it would be a nice tribute to him for all the dedication, all the long hours he's put into our school system," said school board president Angie Gullicks. "He was in the gym a lot, making sure everything was ready whenever there was an event.
"He coached basketball for awhile. But this isn't because he took a team to a state championship. It's for all the many hats he wore in our school. Anytime somebody new came into the school, we'd tell them to go ask Virgil for directions. It will be different not having him in our school halls. He's been a figurehead there."
Briefly
Kerin Hanson has been named head coach of the Thief River Falls girls swimming team.
DeVillers reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1128; (800) 477-6572, ext. 128; or send e-mail to gdevillers@gfherald.com .
