Tennis

     Zander Peterson got back to the match he wanted, a chance to make next weeks State Tennis Tourney. Unfortunately, the tennis Gods were not in his favor and despite a great match for "true second" he came up short, losing a dramatic three-set marathon, falling 7-5 in the final set to Landon Wheeler of Duluth Marshall. The day started with a loss in the semi-final to top seed Ethan Lavan of Cloquet 6-1, 6-3. He then defeated Payton Marks of Rock Ridge by way of an injury to Parks and he withdrew. Zander had to wait for the title match to conclude, won by Lavan 6-2, 6-0. He then faced Wheeler and after winning the first set 6-2, Wheeler came back to win the second 6-2. The final set went 1-0, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6 and finally 7-6  Wheeler as he heads to State. Peterson was visibly upset after the match, "I am just extremely disappointed, but being known by everybody as a dude who is fair and enjoyable to play against is far more important to me than winning. I played good through it all, I'm not disappointed with my tennis." 

      Zander Peterson won both matches at the Section 7A individual tennis tournament Wednesday to advance to the semi-finals on Thursday. Peterson beat Ethan Johnson of Hibbing 6-0, 6-1 in the opening match then dispatched Wyatt Fredrick of Rock Ridge 6-0, 6-0. He faces top seeded Ethan Lavan of Cloquet in the semifinals. Peterson talked about his day, "The serving was quite rough today and I really didn't think I played good overall, but I needed to win one and get to tomorrow and I got the job done. I have a tough one in the semis against Ethan Lavan who is the top seed." The other semifinal has Landon Wheeler of Duluth Marshall going up against Payton Marks of Rock Ridge. Wyatt Winter lost his singles opener and was eliminated. He lost to Devin Cary of Cloquet 6-0, 6-3. Both doubles teams had a rough day, Isaac Asmus and Wyatt Crowther lost to Will Peterson and Aidan Rabideaux of Rock Ridge 6-1, 6-3 and Noland Nordberg and Andrew Hudrlik lost to Noah and Joey Bender of Cloquet 6-4, 6-4.

     The team portion of the Aitkin Gobbler tennis season came to an end Tuesday with an opening round loss to Cloquet 5-2.

#1 Singles Zander Peterson (A) beat Devin Cary (C) 6-0, 6-1

#2 Singles Tommy Radosevich (C) beat Wyatt Winter (A) 7-5, 6-1

#3 Singles Easton Halvorson (C) beat Micah Morris (A) 6-1, 6-3

#4 Singles Hendrix Wilkinson (C) beat Luke Burchett (A) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3

#1 Doubles Noah Bender/Joey Bender (C) beat Wyatt Crowther/Isaac Asmus (A) 6-3, 7-5

#2 Doubles Marco Zegan/Max Sundquist (C) beat Andrew Hudrlik/Noland Nordberg (A) 6-0, 6-2

#3 Doubles Reese Wendlandt/Will Vogtlin (A) beat Silas Barto/Sam Painter (C) 6-1, 6-4

     The Minnesota State Tennis Coaches Association puts out a weekly rankings list of teams and individual players around the state. This week one of the Gobblers toughest opponents each year Pine City, was ranked #3 behind St. Paul Academy and Rock Ridge. Gobbler #1 singles player Zander Peterson, who has played several of the top ten players in the state made the list this week as one of the "others to watch" as teams head into Section team play. He has played some great tennis this season and it's nice to see that he is getting noticed around the state.

     The Aitkin Gobbler boys tennis team finished the regular season at 4-10 after a 7-0 loss Thursday at Rock Ridge. The Gobblers open post season next week.

#1 Singles Payton Marks (RR) beat Zander Peterson (A) 6-1, 6-0

#2 Singles Will Peterson (RR) beat Wyatt Winter (A) 6-0, 6-1

#3 Singles Levi Flatley (RR) beat Noland Nordberg (A) 6-1, 6-2

#4 Singles Dane Powell (RR) beat Luke Burchett (A) 6-4, 6-4

#1 Doubles Grady Dimberio/Grant Dimberio (RR) beat Isaac Asmus/Wyatt Crowther (A) 6-3, 6-2

#2 Doubles Aiden Rahidelzaux/Gus Maki (RR) beat Andrew Hudrlik/Micah Morris (A) 6-1, 6-4

#3 Doubles Grant Benz/Lage Benz (RR) beat Will Vogtlin/Reese Wendlandt (A) 6-1, 6-0

     The Aitkin Gobblers finished off their home season with a 6-1 loss Wednesday to Cloquet. The only Gobbler point came from #3 doubles where Reese Wendlandt and Will Vogtlin won a three-set match.

#1 Singles Ethan Lavon (C) beat Zander Peterson (A) 6-4, 6-0

#2 Singles Devin Cary (C) beat Noland Nordberg (A) 7-5, 6-3

#3 Singles Tommy Radosevich (C) beat Micah Morris (A) 7-6, 6-1

#4 Singles Easton Halverson (C) beat Luke Burchett (A) 6-4, 7-5

#1 Doubles Noah Bender/Joey Bender (C) beat Wyatt Crowther/Isaac Asmus (A) 6-3, 7-5

#2 Doubles Max Sundquist/Marco Zagaw (C) beat Wyatt Winter/Andrew Hudrlik (A) 6-2, 6-4

#3 Doubles Reese Wendlandt/Will Vogtlin (A) beat Hendrix Wilkinson/Silas Barto (C) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

     The Gobblers, now 4-9, close out the regular season Thursday at Rock Ridge.

     The Aitkin Gobblers got back on the winning track Tuesday with a 6-1 home win over Stella Maris Academy.

#1 Singles Zander Peterson (A) beat David Moe (SM) 6-0, 6-2

#2 Singles Mateo Watson (SM) beat Wyatt Winter (A) 7-6, 6-2

#3 Singles Micah Morris (A) beat Allen Welch (SM) 6-0, 6-0

#4 Singles Will Vogtlin (A) beat James Phillipich (SM) 6-0, 6-0

#1 Doubles Isaac Asmus/Wyatt Crowther (A) beat Henry Hoberg/Christopher Gannucci (SM) 7-5, 6-1

#2 Doubles Andrew Hudrlik/Noland Nordberg (A) beat Kieran Kiladonk/Dawson Torvos (SM) 6-0, 6-1

#3 Doubles Reese Wendlandt/Luke Burchett (A) win by forfeit

     Zander Peterson picked up the only win for the Gobblers in their 6-1 loss to Brainerd on Monday.

#1 Singles Zander Peterson (A) beat Owen Robertson (B) 6-2, 6-0

#2 Singles Nick Moraghan (B) beat Wyatt Winer (A) 6-2, 6-0

#3 Singles Sam Maneche (B) beat Andrew Hudrlik (A) 6-0, 6-2

#4 Singles James Lieser (B) beat Will Vogtlin (A) 6-2, 6-4

#1 Doubles Sawyer Riffle/Clark Hoglin (B) beat Wyatt Crowther/Isaac Asmus (A) 7-6, 6-0

#2 Doubles Jace Anderson/Shawn Marcussen (B) beat Noland Nordberg/Micah Morris (A) 6-2, 6-1

#3 Doubles Levi Aadland/Cade Whorton (B) beat Reese Wendlandt/Luke Burchett (A) 6-0, 6-0

     The Aitkin Gobblers were in Foley Saturday for the Granite Ridge Conference Tournament and came out in 4th place. The best finish for Aitkin was at #4 Doubles where Micah Morris and Luke Burchett went 3-1, beating Mora, Foley and St. Cloud Cathedral/St. Johns Prep before losing to Pine City. Wyatt Crowther and Zander Peterson playing at #1 Doubles, beat SCC/STJ but lost to Foley, Pine City and Mora. Andrew Hudrlik and Wyatt Winter played #2 and lost to Pine City, Mora and Foley but beat SCC/STJ. Reese Wendlandt and Noland Nordberg played at #3 and they beat STC/STJ but lost to Mora, Pine City and Foley. Tucker Priem and Will Vogtlin played #5 and finished 1-3, losing to Pine City, Mora and Foley and beating STC/STJ.

     The second match of the day for the Gobblers was a good one with the final point deciding the match not produced until 7:45pm. The #3 doubles match went down to the wire before Hermantown won it and captured the match 4-3.

#1 Singles Zander Peterson (A) beat Preston McChmek (H) 6-0, 6-1

#2 Singles Wyatt Winter (A) beat Evan Flynn (H) 6-1, 6-1

#3 Singles Cole Palokangas (H) beat Andrew Hudrlik (A) 6-0, 6-2

#4 Singles Kenrik Wickstrom (H) beat Luke Burchett (A) 6-2, 6-0

#1 Doubles Isaac Asmus/Wyatt Crowther (A) beat Zach Shingle/Jace Christy (H) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3

#2 Doubles Max Christy/Cal Grebowski (H) beat Noland Nordberg/Reese Wendlandt (A) 6-4, 6-4

#3 Doubles Brendan Bugliosi/Easton Kokowski (H) beat Micah Morris/Will Vogtlin (A) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4

       Gobbler tennis player Zander Peterson was so close to the State Tournament last year he didn't really realize it. Once he did, his focus turned up a notch and he has a bigger goal in 2025. Judging by the start he is off to so far, that goal is becoming clearer with each passing match. He has won four straight matches beating Isiah Hildebrand of Hibbing, Brady Berglund of Pine City, Grady Giffen of Grand Rapids and William Reisinger of St. Cloud Cathedral. He knows the road is still long, but he has done the work to up his game for a tournament run later on in the season. What has it taken to get this far? Zander told me the answer, "Over the past five years I've spent lots and lots of hours to get to the level of tennis I'm at right now. During the summers I would consistently be on court 10-15 hours a week, mostly by myself, serving and hitting off the ball machine and playing matches and tournaments. I've been incredibly blessed with awesome parents that drove me around and paid a lot of money for my tennis endeavors, whether it is shoes, (3-4 pair a year), strings, rackets, grips, gas or tournament fees. I've also been lucky to meet an awesome family in Chanhassen, the Kletts, who have let me spend countless weekends at their house in the Cities over the winter, which allowed me to play multiple tournaments in the Twin Cities where they have indoor courts. I would not have been able to do that without their help." That sounds like a blueprint for success and Zander has the support from longtime Coach Jen Waldorf as well. "He's a good kid, he has improved so much over the last year. He really puts in the work in the off season, and it shows. He's fun to be around and he deserves the credit." Zander has a couple of big matches coming up this week, "This will be a big week for me as I play two of the top 12 players in the state, Joe Sampson of Mora on Tuesday and Wyatt Helberg of North Branch at Aitkin on Friday. Both will be good tests for me." I have watched Zander this season and his serve is a bullet, I wouldn't want to be on the other end of it. It should "serve" him well this week and beyond!