Lebedoff Crowned Class A Singles Champ;
Hancock & Nicholson Take Doubles Crown
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Nick Lebedoff
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Nick Lebedoff’s journey to the state title started at 8 am on Thursday when he quickly dispatched Academy of Holy Angels’ senior Scott Quiring 6-1, 6-0. Lebedoff faced Max Busch a junior from Marshall School in Duluth in quarterfinals and topped him 6-3, 6-4. Next up for Nick was Blue Earth Area School’s senior Jan Trach. Lebedoff dropped Trach 6-1, 6-2 to earn his spot in the championship match. In the State finals Nick faced familiar Tri-Metro rival Matt McCormick. McCormick, an Saint Paul Academy & Summit School senior, was still smarting from his team’s elimination the day before at the hands of Bears and looked to reverse his personal 6-3, 6-2 loss to Lebedoff. Although McCormick made it closer, Lebedoff prevailed 6-3, 6-4 to take home the Class A singles championship.
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Dylan Carter
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For a while it looked as if Class A State finals could be an all Blake School affair. In the upper bracket Blake senior Dylan Cater had won his first round match over senior Reid Nelson of Minnewaska Area by a score of 6-3, 6-4and his quarterfinal match over Mounds Park Academy’s sophomore Bryan Kelly 6-4, 6-4. Cater’s march to the finals was stopped by SPA’s McCormick in the semi’s 6-4, 7-5. Dylan regrouped and went on to defeat Blue Earth’s Trach 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 for third place.
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Merritt Jackley
Ki Steiner
Will Hancock
Blake Nicholson
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The Blake School was also well represented in Class A doubles competition. Two teams of Bears hit the courts in search of a championship. Sophomore Merritt Jackley who was teamed with senior Ki Steiner dropped their first round match to freshman Dutch Hansen and junior Ian Hansen of Lac qui Parle Valley High School. Jackley and Steiner fought back in the Consolation bracket to gain a berth in the Consolation Championship match where they lost to Derek Kaiser and Kirby Johnson of Crookston High School.
Sophomore Will Hancock had some unfinished business to take care of at this tournament. As a freshman Hancock was paired with then senior Zach Olsen and this combination produced a third place finish at State. This year Will partnered with senior Blake Nicholson and the duo was not to be denied. On day one of the tournament Hancock and Nicholson cruised past Montevideo seniors Ryan Aeikens and Keith Gordon 6-0, 6-2 and then breezed past senior Jens Torgrimson and junior Matt LeTourneau of Marshall School-Duluth by a score of 6-2, 6-0 and seemed to be in complete control of their game and their destiny.
Day two of the doubles competition proved to a greater challenge for the boys from Blake. Hancock and Nicholson opened the day with a hard fought victory over Mounds Park Academy’s senior Jake Sheehan and freshman David Croonquist by a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Next, the team of Hancock and Nicholson took on another Tri-Metro foe in the championship match. Will and Blake battled and bested SPA junior Will DeBruyn and freshman John Wight 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to earn the State doubles crown.
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