Evan Ritter, a junior at Lourdes, finished second in the Class 1A state individual tennis tournament, improving upon his third-place finish from the previous year.
Semifinals Performance
In the semifinals, Ritter faced Minnehaha Academy’s Josh Cook, winning in a closely contested match with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Cook had advanced to the semifinals after defeating North Branch’s Wyatt Helberg earlier that day. Helberg subsequently lost to St. Paul Academy’s Winston Arvidson in a shutout performance (6-0), setting up a third-place match between Cook and Arvidson.
Championship Match
Ritter competed against Arvidson in the championship match but fell short, with a final score of 6-1, 6-1. Ritter acknowledged that he struggled with Arvidson’s strong serve returns during the match.
Coach’s Praise
Lourdes coach Steve Tacl commended Ritter for his impressive performance throughout the tournament, noting significant improvement since last year. He remarked, "Evan came out playing a really high level of tennis. He was serving well, defending well, and winning all the big points."
Tacl also pointed out the challenges faced by players like Ritter, who may not be accustomed to competing at such high levels frequently. He stated, "It’s tough when you’re not used to playing every single day," referring to players who have been competing nonstop since April or May without much time off between matches.
Looking Ahead
Ritter is eager to continue his journey next season, aiming to work towards his goal of becoming a state champion while gaining more experience at this competitive level.
Class A Individual Singles Title
The Class A individual singles title was claimed by Ben Hsu from Mounds View High School.
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