RAPID CITY — A strong finish on the final day helped lead Watertown to a fourth-place finish in the state Class AA girls tennis tournament that concluded Friday.
Rapid City Stevens pulled away for the championship in the 14-team tourney with 509 points, followed by defending champion Sioux Falls Lincoln at 366, Yankton 311.5, Watertown 294.5, Mitchell 284, O’Gorman 270, Aberdeen Central 249, Sioux Falls Jefferson 164, Harrisburg 137, Brandon Valley 114.5, Sioux Falls Washington 57, Brookings 26, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 16.5 and Rapid City Central 0.
Leyla Meester’s runner-up finish at No. 2 singles and third-place finishes by Ellie Zink and Meester (No. 1 doubles) and Cayda Weiss and Jade Smith (No. 3 doubles) sparked Watertown.
Zink (No. 1) and Smith (No. 6) each placed fourth in singles, Faith Berg (No. 3) fifth and Weiss (No.5) sixth. Sophia Nichols won the consolation championship at No. 4 singles.
“The girls really stepped up on the second day of the tournament, and we ended up fourth, which was great for this group of girls who have put so much time and effort into tennis over the years,” Watertown head coach Ryan Zink said.
Stevens crowned four singles champions and also won two of the three doubles flights.
Seniors Zink, Berg, Nichols and Weiss each closed out their high school careers for the Arrows along with reserve Hannah Pesek. Only juniors Meester and Smith will return from this year’s regular lineup.
“This was such a wonderful group of girls to coach, and I’m really going to miss the five seniors who will graduate,” Zink said. “The girls worked hard all season and competed as hard as they could, and I couldn’t be more proud as a coach. We will definitely need some younger girls to put in some time in the offseason to be able to step into varsity spots next year.”
Zink also thanked assistants Mackenzie Turbak and Parker Young for all their help with the team.
Aberdeen Central’s sixth-place finish including a runner-up placing at No. 2 doubles by Chloe Ladner and Reese Comstock. Ladner also finished third at No. 4 singles.
Comstock (No. 3) and Sarah Knie (No. 5) each added fourth-place finishes in singles for the Golden Eagles. Mady Holman and Estelline Riggs took sixth at No. 3 doubles.
Comstock and Julia Knie, who played No. 1 singles and doubles, are seniors for Aberdeen Central.
Championship Singles Matches
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First Flight — Nora Krajewski, Yankton, def. Eloise Geraets, SF Lincoln, 7-6 (4), 6-1.
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Second Flight — Sylvie Mortimer, RC Stevens, def. Leyla Meester, Watertown, 6-3, 3-6, 10-1.
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Third Flight — Ella Potvin, RC Stevens, def. Julia Hedrick, SF Lincoln, 6-0, 6-0.
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Fourth Flight — Madison Marsh, RC Stevens, def. Elly Clement, Mitchell, 6-2, 6-4.
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Fifth Flight — Bella Nelson, RC Stevens, def. Matteah Graves, Mitchell, 6-1, 6-3.
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Sixth Flight — Momo Welch Okawa, SF Lincoln, def. Mia Larson, Mitchell, 6-4, 6-4.
Championship Doubles Matches
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First Flight — Nora-Sabrina Krajewski, Yankton, def. Ellie Huber-Lucy Koziara, O’Gorman, 6-2, 6-3.
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Second Flight — Arabella Scott-Elene Braun, RC Stevens, def. Reese Comstock-Chloe Ladner, Aberdeen Central, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
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Third Flight — Madison Marsh-Bella Nelson, RC Stevens, def. Lily Statema-Momo Welch Okawa, SF Lincoln, 4-6, 6-1,10-1.
OPENING DAY OF STATE AA TENNIS: Aberdeen Central fourth, Watertown sixth after opening day of state Class AA girls tennis
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-day wrap of the state Class AA high school girls tennis tournament
