May 21—ROCHESTER — Karthik Anand’s game has taken a big jump these last few years.
It culminated with what the Century senior pulled off Thursday, finishing as the Section 1, Class 2A singles tennis champion at John Marshall.
Next up for Anand is a trip to the Class 2A state tournament, set for June 4-5 at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center.
Anand wasn’t the favorite from his team to win a section title Thursday. That distinction belonged to eighth-grade budding star and teammate Thor Sviggum.
But this turned into Anand’s day. He knocked off Faribault’s Brandon Patrick 7-5, 7-5 in the section semifinals, then beat Austin’s up-and-coming Cole Hebrink 7-6 (8-6 tie-breaker), 6-2 for the title. It was Hebrink who had upset Sviggum in the semis, 7-6 (8-6 tie breaker), 6-0.
“Karthik really stepped up today,” Century coach Ben Maes.
It must be noted that Anand did not even make the team as a freshman. That’s how far he’s come.
Thursday, he was consistently at his best.
“He didn’t have any inconsistent spells, and he stayed calm,” Maes said. “Winning that first set was really important. I felt like whoever won that was going to win the match.”
Maes has reveled in the progress Anand has made over the last three years.
“He has made a big jump,” Maes said. “Every year, he’s gotten better. Too bad there isn’t a 13th grade because I’d like to see what he could do next year.”
What Anand did on Thursday was stay patient and poised. He did that while still unleashing some of his powerful strokes.
“He has gotten so much better,” Maes said. “I’m excited for him. He deserved to go (to state).”
The doubles champion was predictable.
With Mayo standouts Noah Ryder and Caleb Kennel joining forces (they play No. 1 and 2 singles in team duals), they proved too much for both their opponents Thursday. They won 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinals, then had to work some to beat Mayo teammates John Trygstad and Daniel McKie 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the championship.
All four will advance to state.
Mayo coach Jeff Demaray had listed Ryder and Kennel among the favorites once they get to state. He likes how their games complement each other and the consistency both players bring. Ryder is a junior, Kennel a senior. Both are regarded as among the top 15 players in the state, according to Demaray.
“I’m really proud of all four of them and how they competed today,” Demaray said. “(Kennel and Ryder) did a nice job serving and then getting to the net. The net is where you want to be. I’m also really proud of how well they represented Mayo High School today. All four of them were very classy.”
Singles
Semifinals: Cole Hebrink (Austin) def. Thor Sviggum (Century) 7-6 (8-6), 6-0; Karthik Anand (Century) def. Brandon Petrika 7-5, 7-5. Championship: Karthik Anand (Century) de. Cole Hebrink (Austin) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2. Third place: Thor Sviggum (Century) def. Brandon Petricka (Faribault) 6-1, 6-4.
Doubles
Semifinals: Caleb Kennel/Noah Ryder (M) def. Preston Craig/Ethan Tran (Lakeville North) 6-0, 6-1; John Trygstad/Daniel McKie (Mayo) def. Rowan Johnson/Tim Schroeder (Century) 6-0, 6-0. Championship: Caleb Kennel/Noah Ryder (Mayo) def. John Trygstad/Daniel McKie (Mayo) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Third place: Rowan Johnson/Tim Schroeder (Century) def. Preston Craig/Ethan Tran (Lakeville North) 6-0, 6-0.
ROCHESTER — Defending section champion Evan Ritter made it safely to the semifinals of the Section 1, Class 1A boys tennis tournament on Thursday at the Rochester Athletic Club.
Ritter made easy work of Stewartville’s Isaac Wiennman, winning 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
Ritter will next take on Winona Cotter’s Everett Engler on Tuesday in the semis, with finals to follow. The other match pits Waseca’s Henry Huttemier against Schaeffer’s Hudson Zimmerman.
In doubles, Winona Cotter’s Hamilton Brewer and Logan Granseth will take on Lourdes’ Easton Ackley and Bobby Fitzgerald in one semifinal. The other semi is Lourdes’ Andy Fink/Joe Palen playing Bo Doyle and Austin Hosfeld of Austin. They snuck off with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Waseca’s Armaan Bhatti and Keenan Collins in the other quarterfinal.
Singles
Quarterfinals: Evan Ritter (Lourdes) def. Isaac Wiennman (Stewartville) 6-2, 6-0; Everett Engler (Winona Cotter) de. Luke Farrar (Red Wing) 6-4, 6-4; Henry Huttemier (Waseca) def. Matthew Spinler Malo (Stewartville) 7-6, 7-4), 6-1; Hudson Zimmerman (Schaeffer) def. Ivan Chen (Lake City) 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles
Quarterfinals: Hamilton Brewer/Logan Ganseth (Winona Cotter) def. Cooper Martin/Elias Hann (Stewartville) 6-2, 6-0; Easton Ackley/Bobby Fitzgerald (Lourdes) def. Andrew Homme/Braden Phetsarath (Schaeffer) 6-4, 6-4; Andy Fink/Joe Palen (Lourdes) def. Zeke Jaworski/Michael Row 6-1, 6-2; Bo Doyle/Austin Hosfeld (Red Wing) def. Armaan Bhjatti/Keenan Collins (Waseca) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.