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Sioux Falls Lincoln holds off Rapid City Stevens to claim state championship

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·4 min read

SIOUX FALLS — The Watertown and Aberdeen Central girls tennis teams each wrapped up successful seasons on Friday during the final day of the state Class AA girls tennis tournament.

The Eastern South Dakota Conference champion Golden Eagles placed fifth (269 points) and Watertown sixth (212.5) in the 14-team tourney.

Sioux Falls Lincoln claimed the team title by a 432-402.5 margin over Rapid City Stevens.

"We played some good tennis today," said Watertown head coach Ryan Zink. "The girls were awesome to coach and gave it everything they had this year. It was a successful season with a 15-3 dual record, third-place ESD finish and sixth at state."

Watertown's Karlie Schulte slams the ball at the net during a third-flight doubles match in the South Dakota state Class AA high school girls tennis tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Sioux Falls.
Watertown's Karlie Schulte slams the ball at the net during a third-flight doubles match in the South Dakota state Class AA high school girls tennis tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Sioux Falls.

Senior Karlie Schulte led the Arrows by placing third at No. 6 singles. Sophomore Leyla Meester was fourth at No. 2, junior Ellie Zink sixth at No. 1, junior Faith Berg sixth at No. 3 and junior Cayda Weiss ninth at No. 5. Zink-Meester (No. 1) and Weiss-Schulte (No. 3) each took sixth in doubles.

Junior Julia Knie and sophomore Avery Tennant took second at No. 1 doubles for Aberdeen. Junior Reese Comstock and senior Olivia Geier were fourth at No. 3 doubles and seniors Laney Gonsor and Olivia Douglas sixth at No. 2 doubles. Gonsor and Comstock each placed third at No. 3 and No. 5 singles, Douglas fifth at No. 4 singles and Knie 10th at No. 1 singles.

Final Team Scores — Sioux Falls Lincoln 432, Rapid City Stevens 402.5, Mitchell 372.5, Sioux Falls Jefferson 318, Aberdeen Central 269, Watertown 212.5, Brandon Valley 190, Yankton 179, O'Gorman 173.5, Harrisburg 107, Brookings 72.5, Sioux Falls Washington 43, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 15.5 and Rapid City Central 0.

Championship Matches

Singles — Flight 1: Nora Krajewski, Yankton, def. Eloise Geraets, SF Lincoln, 6-2, 3-6, 10-5. Flight 2: Megan Mastel, Mitchell, def. Sylvie Mortimer, RC Stevens, 2-6, 6-0, 10-5. Flight 3: Arabella Scott, RC Stevens, def. Carsyn Weich, Mitchell, 6-4, 6-4; Flight 4: Ella Potvin, RC Stevens, def. Gracyee Sargent, SF Jefferson, 4-1 (withdrew). Flight 5: Abby Boersma, Brandon Valley, def. Madison Marsh, RC Stevens, 6-2, 6-2. Flight 6: Angela Ge, SF Lincoln, def. Matteah Graves, Mitchell, 2-6, 6-4, 10-5.

Doubles — Flight 1: Eloise Geraets-Charlotte Crawford, SFL, def. Julia Knie-Avery Tennant, Aberdeen Central, 6-1, 6-1. Flight 2: Carsyn Weich-Elly Clement, Mitchell, def. Afton Keller-Graycee Sargent, SF Jefferson, 6-4, 6-1. Flight 3: Julia Hedrick-Angela Ge, SF Lincoln, def. Katie Korgan-Matteah Graves, Mitchell, 6-2, 6-4.

Watertown's Leyla Meester, right, and Ellie Zink give each other a high-five after winning a point during the flight one doubles fifth place match at the South Dakota state Class AA Girls Tennis Tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Sioux Falls.
Watertown's Leyla Meester, right, and Ellie Zink give each other a high-five after winning a point during the flight one doubles fifth place match at the South Dakota state Class AA Girls Tennis Tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Sioux Falls.

Watertown Results

Ellie Zink (No. 1 Singles) — Lost to Delaney Degen, Mitchell, 10-1 in fifth-place match.

Leyla Meester (No. 2 Singles) — Lost to Megan Mastel, Mitchell, 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 in semifinals; lost to Charlotte Crawford, SF Lincoln, 10-2 in third-place match.

Faith Berg (No. 3 Singles) — Lost to Bergen Quello, SF Lincoln, 10-8 in fifth-place match.

Cayda Weiss (No. 5 Singles) — Def. Karalyn Koerner, Yankton, 10-2 for ninth place.

Karlie Schulte (No. 6 Singles) — Lost to Angela Ge, SF Lincoln, 6-1, 6-1 in semifinals; def. Bella Nelson, RC Stevens, 10-6 for third place.

Zink-Meester (No. 1 Doubles) — Def. Addison Meyers-Melia Thelen, Brandon Valley, 8-6; lost to Nora-Sabrina Krajewski, Yankton, 8-1 in fifth-place match.

Berg-Sophia Nichols (No. 2 Doubles) — Lost to Keera Kriech-Abby Boersma, Brandon Valley, 8-1 in fifth-place semis.

Weiss-Schulte (No. 3 Doubles) — Def. Sophia Menden-Regan Morrell, Brandon Valley, 8-6; lost to Sarah Jamous-Wilnel Farhat, O'Gorman, 8-1 in fifth-place match.

Watertown's Ellie Zink hits a shot during the flight one doubles fifth place match at the South Dakota state Class AA Girls Tennis Tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Sioux Falls.
Watertown's Ellie Zink hits a shot during the flight one doubles fifth place match at the South Dakota state Class AA Girls Tennis Tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Sioux Falls.

Aberdeen Central Results

Julia Knie (No. 1 Singles) — Lost to Addison Meyers, Bandon Valley, 10-8 in ninth-place match.

Laney Gonsor (No. 3 Singles) — Lost to Carsyn Weich, Mitchell, 6-0, 6-2 in semifinals; Def. Afton Keller, SF Jefferson, 10-9 (10) for third place.

Livia Douglas (No. 4 Singles) — Def. Sophia Menden, Brandon Valley, 10-4; def. Sarah Jamous, O'Gorman, 10-5 for fifth place.

Reese Comstock (No. 5 Singles) — Lost to Madison Marsh, RC Stevens, 6-3, 6-1 in semifinals; def. Hadley Garry, O'Gorman, 10-7 for third place.

Riley O'Keefe (No. 6 Singles) — Lost to Savannah Vander Zee, SF Jefferson, 10-7 in fifth-place semis.

Knie-Avery Tennant (No. 1 Doubles) — Lost to Eloise Geraets-Charlotte Crawford, SF Lincoln, 6-1, 6-1 in championship.

Aberdeen Central's Julia Knie serves during the first flight doubles championship match in the South Dakota state Class AA high school girls tennis tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Sioux Falls.
Aberdeen Central's Julia Knie serves during the first flight doubles championship match in the South Dakota state Class AA high school girls tennis tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Sioux Falls.

Gonsor-Douglas (No. 2 Doubles) — Def. Anika Hooda-Yuki Zhu, Brookings, 8-5; lost to Keera Kriech-Abby Boersma, Brandon Valley, 8-7 (6) in fifth-place match.

Comstock-Olivia Geier (No. 3 Doubles) — Lost to Julia Hedrick-Angela Ge, SF Linicoln, 6-4, 6-3 in semifinals; lost to Madison Marsh-Bella Nelson, RC Stevens, 8-5 in third-place match.

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 wrap-up from the state Class AA girls tennis tournament