BV boys claim 8th place at AA state tennis tourney
Photo courtesy of SDPB
Eli Woidyla stretches to return a shot during play of the AA State Boys’ Tennis Tournament in Rapid City. Woidyla and the Lynx placed eighth as a team.
Jill Meier
Journal editor
The youngest member on the Lynx boys’ tennis team claimed the highest placing at the May 16-17 Class AA State Boys Tennis Tournament in Rapid City. And as a team, Brandon Valley nabbed eighth place.
“We finished our season on a high note with Will (Jensen) taking fourth at flight 4,” said BV head coach Cassie Kocer.
Jensen, just an eighth-grader, played his way to a fourth-place finish in Flight 4 singles.
“As an eighth-grader, the state tournament can present challenges that are unlike any other experience,” Kocer said. “Will kept his cool and battled through both days. It was fun to watch, and we’re excited to see him continue to learn and grow as a tennis player for our team.”
Jensen opened with a pair of 6-1 set victories over Aric Tennant of Aberdeen Central. After losting 7-5 to Yankton’s Luke Moeller, he rallied back with a 6-2 win in the second set, and hauled off with the 12-10 tiebreaker to advance. Jensen lost his next two matches, the first to O’Gorman’s Liam Saarmiento (6-3, 6-0) and the third-place match to Owen Boyd (10-3) of Sioux Falls Washington.
As for the remainder of the Lynx lineup, Kocer said they place at – or near – their seed placement.
A trio of Lynx brought home sixth place in their respective flights. Eli Woidyla (Flight 1) and Gavin Stone (Flight 5) both won two and lost two. Ryley McKeown (Flight 6) went 1-2.
In flight 2 singles, BV’s Gibsen Eszlinger came home as the consolation champ. After losing his opening match, the Lynx senior won his next two matches.
Junior Lucas Fogaty (Flight 3) also played his way to the consolation finals. He lost 0-3 to Jefferson’s Charlie Erickson.
With only one senior on the roster – Eszlinger – Kocer and the Lynx will return to the courts next year as an “experienced” team.
“As the season ends, we will reflect on the victories, learn from the defeats, and come back stronger for next year,” she said. “Our players’ dedication and passion for the game has been inspiring and we are proud of all of them.”
Class AA Boys’ State
Tennis Tournament
May 16-17 • Rapid City
Team points: 1.) SF Lincoln, 555.5; 2.) O’Gorman, 428; 3.) SF Washington, 2 https://gobound.com/sd/sdhsaa/boystennis/2023-24/brandonvalley/v/roster73; 4) Yankton, 2273; 5.) Harrisburg, 264; 6.) Watertown, 176; 7.) Mitchell, 187.5; 8.) Brandon Valley, 165.5; 9.) RC Stevens, 162.5; 10.) SF Jefferson, 68.5; 11.) Aberdeen Central, 49.5; 12.) Brookings, 26; 13.) RC Central, 19; 14.) SF Roosevelt, 0.
Lynx results
Singles – Flight 1: Eli Woidyla (BV) def. Anson Griffin (RCC), 6-2, 6-2; Chase Rima (SFW) def. Woidyla, 4-6, 7-5; 10-2; Fifth-place semis: Woidyla def. Dayler Segrist (RCS), 10-4; Fifth-place finals: Zachary Briggs (Wat) def. Woidyla, 10-7.
Flight 2: Max Phares (RCS) def. Gibsen Eszlinger (BV), 3-6, 6-3, 10-5; Eszlinger receives bye; Eszlinger def. Blake Walter (SFJ), 10-7; Consolation championship: Eszlinger def. Luke Jerke (Mit), 10-1.
Flight 3: Josh Mueller (RCS) def. Lucas Fogarty (BV), 6-1, 6-2l Fogarty receives bye; Fogarty def. Carson Kreie (Brk)10-2; Consolation championship: Charlie Erickson (SFJ) def. Fogarty, 10-3.
Flight 4: Will Jensen (BV) def. Aric Tennant (AC), 6-1, 6-1; Jensen def. Luke Moeller (Yan), 5-7, 6-2, 12-10; Semi-finals: Liam Sarmiento (OG) def. Jensen, 6-3, 6-0; Third-place finals: Owen Boyd (SFW) def. Jensen, 10-3.
Flight 5: Gavin Stone (BV) def. Kyan Kemmis (SFJ), 6-2, 6-1; Miles Krajewski (Yan) def. Stone, 6-3, 6-1; Fifth-place semis: Stone def. Skyler Stanton (Wat), 10-9(4); Fifth-place finals: Eli Boyd (SFW) def. Stone, 10-8.
Flight 6: Ryley McKeown (BV) def. Asher Vandewater (SFJ), 6-0, 6-1; Connor Husser (SFL) def. McKeown, 6-3, 7-5; Fifth-place semis: Ozil Sharma (Har) def. McKeown, 6-3, 7-5; Fifth-place semifinals: McKeown def. O. Sharma (Har), 10-4; Fifth place: Ethan Marsh (Yan) def. McKeown, 10-4.
Doubles – Flight 1: E. Woidyla/G. Eszlinger (BV) def. A. Prehn/M. Ligon (AC), 6-3, 6-0; H. Mayer/C. Rima (SFW) def. Woidyla/Eszlinger, 6-2, 6-2; Fifth-place semifinals: Z. Briggs/H. Krajewski (Yan) def. Woidyla/Eszliner, 10-7.
Flight 2: L. Fogarty/G. Stone (BV) def. B. Nelson/L. Roozenboom (RCS), 6-1, 7-5; R. McKenzie/C. Tao (SFL) def. Fogarty/Stone, 6-1, 6-2; Fifth-place semifinals: M. Mauszycki/L. Loken (Mit) def. Fogarty/Stone, 10-3.
Flight 3: W. Jensen/R. McKeown (BV) def. D. Pederson/B. Anderson (AC), 6-3, 6-1; M. Krajewski/E. Marsh (Yan) def. Jensen/McKeown, 6-4, 6-2; Fifth-place semifinals: E. Miller/O. Sharma (Har) def. Jensen/McKeown, 10-8.
