The Mitchell boys’ tennis team got off to a respectable start at the Class A state tournament in Sioux Falls Monday.
The Kernels are in third place in team standings at 257 points, just behind Huron at 260 points, while Sioux Falls Christian is currently the leader with 287.5 points. Mitchell was very successful in both singles flights and doubles as the Kernels have a semifinalist in five of six singles, along with two of their three doubles teams also in the semifinals.
The #3 seed Macon Larson defeated Pierre’s Matthew Hanson 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the semifinals, where he’ll take on Huron’s Eh Dah. #5 seed Aidan Patrick beat Milbank’s Joe Schulte 6-3, 6-0 and upset #4 seed Roger Puterbaugh of Huron 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 to get to the semifinals, where he’ll face top seed Luke Leingang of Pierre. Connor Thelen got past Pierre’s Spencer Kelly 6-1, 2-6, 10-4 at Flight 4 to set up a semifinals matchup with #1 seed Ryan Schulte of Yankton. #3 seed Jack Vermeulen defeated Huron’s Hay Klu Moo Taw 6-3, 6-1 to earn a semifinals match with Rapid City Christian’s Jack Hancock. Luke Jerke, the top seed in Flight 6, knocked out Lennox’s Gunnar Geiken 6-2, 6-0 and is set to take on Palmer Johnson from Aberdeen Roncalli in the semifinals.
At Flight 1 in doubles play, Macon Larson and Tyler Loecker beat Pierre’s Matthew Hanson and Blake Judson 5-7, 7-6, 10-7 to advance to the semifinals, where they’ll face the top-seed team of Tyler Plank and Jackson Plank from Lennox. Mitchell’s Drake Jerke and Cameron Miller punched their ticket to the semifinals by defeating Pierre’s Denton Beck and Jacob Meyer 6-3, 6-2. Jerke and Miller are the #2 seed and they are taking on Huron’s Klu Moo Taw and Lay Kpaw Wah in a semifinals matchup.