Boys tennis: Litchfield Dragons happy to get back to state
· Yahoo Sports
May 29—MINNEAPOLIS — A strong senior class and a bevy of underclassmen have joined forces to push the
team back into the big dance for the first time since 2022.
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Litchfield made it count down the stretch.
With its entire section roster back except for Lincoln Dille — who joined a tennis academy in South Carolina after being a two-time state entrant as an individual — the Dragons made it count.
Litchfield defeated Blue Earth and St. James before earning a 4-3 win over Southwest Christian for the Section 2A title on May 18.
That section title served as redemption for the Dragons.
Southwest Christian earned a 6-1 win against Litchfield on April 28.
Now, the unseeded Dragons play second-seeded St. Paul Academy in the Class A state quarterfinals at noon Tuesday at InnerCity Tennis.
St. Paul Academy has won four consecutive state titles.
"It was fun to see the team come together and make sure we left these seniors on a high note because they have been such a big part of our program," Litchfield head coach Justin Wittrock said. "We will go down there and give it our best shot."
Matthias Bruning and Josh Blomberg have had outstanding senior years. They also qualified for the Class A state doubles meet and play fifth-seeded Wyatt Frederick and Hayden Gonzales of Rock Ridge at 10 a.m. Thursday at InnerCity Tennis.
The two typically play No. 1 doubles together, though they played as singles players in the Section 2A tournament against Blue Earth in the quarterfinals and St. James in the semifinals.
Bruning boasts a 24-1 record and Blomberg is not far off at 21-4.
Blomberg was also on the 2022 state team as an eighth-grader.
"Everybody else — when they've had opportunities — they've risen to the occasion and we've won a lot of matches four-to-three throughout the year," Wittrock said. "It's been different guys getting to that fourth point."
Wittrock's two sons were key in the Section 2A championship.
Tommy, a sophomore at No. 1 singles, earned the fourth point with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Southwest Christian's Davis Wurst. He also qualified for the Class A state singles meet and plays top-seeded Evan Ritter of Rochester Lourdes at 8 a.m. Thursday at InnerCity Tennis.
Andy, an eighth-grader at No. 3 singles, secured the third point with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory against Southwest Christian's Caden Thomas. It marked his first full match since April 21 after he suffered a sprained ankle.
"I was really proud of the boys," Justin said.
Also spending time in singles play are senior Max Grabow and seventh-grader Zeke Bruning, who has also played No. 3 doubles with senior Isaac Elwell and eighth-grader Everett Carlson.
Elwell and Carlson typically team up at No. 3 doubles.
"Isaac has been really important," Justin said of Elwell, who has played with four doubles partners. "He's had to adjust and adapt to a lot of different types of players. ... His maturity and leadership in helping guide these young guys has been invaluable."
Senior Matt Defries and sophomore Grayson Swenson usually slot in at No. 2 doubles.
Also in the mix while Andy was out was eighth-grader Mason Beckstrand. He gained experience at No. 4 singles and No. 3 doubles.
"I'm just so happy for them that we had a real good season," Justin said. "Everything is just icing on the cake because, regardless of what happens, this doesn't happen often."