WATERTOWN — Watertown and defending champion Aberdeen Central didn’t capture a singles or doubles championship but did have a strong showing in the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls tennis tournament.
The two-day tourney featured nine schools and ran Monday and Tuesday at the Belmont and Highland Park tennis courts.
Mitchell crowned won four of the six singles flights and two of the three doubles flights and won the team title with 321 points. Yankton, which won two individual titles and a doubles title, was second at 266. Watertown was third at 251.5, followed by Aberdeen Central 224.5, Harrisburg 117, Huron 62, Brandon Valley 40.5, Pierre 7 and Brookings 0.\
“We ended up third but it was a great tournament and I’m really proud of all the girls and how they played,” Watertown head coach Ryan Zink said. “Today (Tuesday) was a really long day but the weather was great.”
Monday’s opening rounds were played under heavy wind gusts. Tuesday was cooler with a very little wind.
Ellie Zink (first flight), Faith Berg (third flight), Cayda Weiss (fifth flights) and Jade Smith (sixth flight) each finished second in singles for Watertown. Leyla Meester was third in the third flight and Sophia Nichols fifth in the fourth flights.
Zink and Meester also reached the finals at No. 1 doubles before falling. Weiss and Smith were third in the third flight and Berg-Nichols fifth in the second flight.
Chloe Lander recorded runner-up finishes at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles with partner Reese Comstock for Aberdeen Central. Julie Knie was third at No. 1 and Comstock third at No. 3 singles. Avery Tennant (No. 2), Sara Knie (No. 5) and Ashley Ortega (No. 6) each placed fourth.
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Knie and Tennant also took third at No. 1 doubles. Mady Holman and Estelle Riggs took fourth at No. 3 doubles.
All the the ESD teams will close out their seasons by competing in the state Class AA tourney on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 10-11 at Rapid City.
The state Class A tourney runs Monday and Tuesday, Oct.7-8 at Rapid City and includes area Class A schools Aberdeen Roncalli and Milbank. Sioux Falls Christian is the defending champion. Roncalli took seventh and Milbank 10th out of 11 teams in 2023.
Sioux Falls Lincoln is the defending champion in Class AA. Aberdeen Central placed fifth and Watertown sixth out of 14 teams last fall.
“It should be a fun state tournament and the ESD will be well represented,” Zink said. “I think Rapid City Stevens is probably the team favorite along with Lincoln but we hope to go to Rapid, play our best tennis and see what happens.”
Individual Championships
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Singles Flight 1 — Nora Krajewski, Yankton, def. Ellie Zink, Watertown, 10-7.
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Singles Flight 2 — Carsyn Weich, Mitchell, def. Sabrina Krajewski, Yankton, 10-6.
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Singles Flight 3 — Paige Mitzel, Yankton, def. Faith Berg, Watertown, 10-3.
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Singles Flight 4 — Elly Clement, Mitchell, def. Chloe Ladner, Aberdeen Central, 10-6.
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Singles Flight 5 — Matteah Graves, Mitchell, def. Cayda Weiss, Watertown, 10-5.
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Singles Flight 6 — Mia Larson, Mitchell, def. Jade Smith, Watertown, 10-9 (8).
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Doubles Flight 1 — Nora-Sabrina Krajewski, Yankton, def. Ellie Zink-Leyla Meester, Watertown, 10-7.
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Doubles Flight 2 — Elly Clement-Mateah Graves, Mitchell, def. Reese Comstock-Chloe Ladner, Aberdeen Central, 10-7.
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Doubles Flight 3 — Katie Morgan-Mia Larson, Mitchell, def. Hope Gabel-Hannah Frye, Harrisburg, 10-8.
Other Placewinners
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Singles Flight 1 — 3. Julia Knie, Aberdeen Central; 4. AnneClaire Rubish, Huron; 5. Megan Mastel, Mitchell; 6. Mckenzie Vickery, Harrisburg.
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Singles Flight 2 — 3. Leyla Meester, Watertown; 4. Avery Tennant, Aberdeen Central; 5. Madelyn Von Wald, Harrisburg; 6. Sophia Menden, Brandon Valley.
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Singles Flight 3 — 3. Reese Comstock, Aberdeen Central; 4. Katie Morgan, Mitchell; 5. Claudia Scholten, Brandon Valley; 6. Jessi Muth, Harrisburg.
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Singles Flight 4 — 3. Paw Kler Moo, Huron; 4. Noa Lovro, Harrisbug; 5. Sophia Nichols, Watertown; 6. Reagan Morrell, Brandon Valley.
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Singles Flight 5 — 3. Hannah Frye, Harrisburg; 4. Sara Knie, Aberdeen Central; 5. Eliza Mayer, Pierre; 6. Karalyn Koerner, Yankton.
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Singles Flight 6 — 3. Hope Gabel, Harrisburg; 4. Ashley Ortega, Aberdeen Central; 5. Makenna Beck, Brandon Valley; 6. Meagan Scott, Yankton.
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Doubles Flight 1 — 3. Julia Knie-Avery Tennant, Aberdeen Central; 4. Megan Mastel-Carsyn Weich, Mitchell; 5. Mckenzie Vickery-Madelyn Von Wald, Harrisburg; 6. Keera Kriech-Claudia Scholten, Brandon Valley.
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Doubles Flight 2 — 3. Paige Mitzel-Addison Gordon, Yankton; 4. Say Glay-Paw Kler Moo, Huron; 5. Faith Berg-Sophia Nichols, Watertown; 6. Sophia Menden-Reagan Morrell, Brandon Valley.
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Doubles Flight 3 — 3. Cayda Weiss-Jade Smith, Watertown; 4. Mady Holman-Estelle Riggs, Aberdeen Central; 5. Karolyn Koerner-Meagan Scott, Yankton; 6. Harper Beatch-Olivia Ericsson, Brandon Valley.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Final wrapup of the Eastern S.D. Conference girls tennis tournament
