State AA Boys Tennis: Sioux Falls Lincoln wins again, Watertown takes fifth
RAPID CITY — A solid final day carried Watertown to a fifth-place finish in the state Class AA boys tennis tournament that concluded Friday.
Sioux Falls Lincoln held off Sioux Falls Washington 539.5-522 to win its eighth-straight state title. Sioux Falls O'Gorman scored 402 points, Rapid City Stevens 236.5 and Watertown 214 in the 12-team meet.
"Our goal as a team was to finish in the top 54 and the guys stepped up today to help us achieve that," said Watertown head coach Ryan Zink.
Evan Meester (third flight) and Jadon Lindner (fifth flight) each placed fourth in singles for Watertown. Curtis Sneden (second flight) and Zandar Binde (sixth flight) each took fifth.
Lindner and Binde combined for a fifth-place finish at No. 3 doubles. Sneden and Mark Mahowald took sixth in the first flight.
Meester and Justin Remmers lost in the fifth-place semifinals match at No. 2 doubles.
"I'm really proud of the effort from all the kids this season," said Zink. "We lose Zandar and Jadon to graduation, so we will need some younger guys to step up for next season."
Gage Gohl at No. 1, Rocky McKenzie at No. 2 and River McKenzie at No. 4 each won singles titles for Lincoln. Gohl and Rocky McKenzie also won at No. 1 doubles.
Other champions were Noah Morgan of Washington, No. 3 singles; Will Koziara of O'Gorman, No. 5 singles; Harold Mayer of Washington, No. 6 singles; Noah and Jacob Morgans of Washington, No. 2 doubles; and Chase Rima and Mayer of Washington, No. 3 doubles.
Final Team Scores
Sioux Falls Lincoln 539.5, Sioux Falls Washington 522, Sioux Falls O'Gorman 402, Rapid City Stevens 236.5, Watertown 214, Brandon Valley 208, Aberdeen Central 200, Harrisburg 166, Sioux Falls Jefferson 113.5, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 108, Brookings 9, Rapid City Central 0.
Singles Championships
• First Flight — Gage Gohl, Lincoln, def. Clayton Poppenga, Washington, 3-6, 6-1, 10-4.
• Second Flight — Rocky McKenzie, Lincoln, def. Davis Shafer, Washington, 6-3, 6-4.
• Third Flight — Noah Morgans, Washington, def. Drew Gohl, Lincoln, 6-0, 4-6, 10-5.
• Fourth Flight —River McKenzie, Lincoln, def. Chase Rima, Washington, 6-2, 7-5.
• Fifth Flight — Will Koziara, O'Gorman, vs. Arthur Tao, Lincoln, 4-6, 6-1, 10-8.
• Sixth Flight — Harold Mayer, Washington, vs. Christopher Tao, Lincoln, 7-5, 3-6, 10-8.
Doubles
• First Flight — Gage Gohl-Rocky McKenzie, Lincoln, def. Clayton Poppenga-David Shafer, Washington, 5-7, 6-3, 10-6.
• Second Flight — Noah-Jacob Morgans, Washington, def. Drew Gohl-River McKenzie, Lincoln, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8.
• Third Flight — Chase Rima-Harold Mayer, Washington, vs. Arthur Tao-Isaac Stewart, Lincoln, 6-1, 7-5.
Watertown Singles (Friday)
• Second Flight — Curtis Sneden def. Maverick Ragon, Harrisburg, 10-6; def. Nolan Rehorst, Rapid City Stevens, 10-1. Fifth place.
• Third Flight — Evan Meester lost to Cooper Johnson, O'Gorman, 10-1. Fourth place.
• Fifth Flight — Jadon Lindner lost to Jacob Morgans, Washington, 10-3. Fourth place.
• Sixth Flight — Zandar Binde def. Jack Riggs, Aberdeen Central, 10-8; def. Koleton Anderson, Harrisburg, 10-6. Fifth place.
Watertown Doubles (Friday)
• First Flight — Mark-Mahowald-Curtis Sneden def. Cole Murray-Eli Woidyla, Brandon Valley, 10-7; lost to Gabe Goetz-Ian Aahlberg, Aberdeen Central, 10-5. Sixth place.
• Second Flight — Evan Meester-Justin Remmers lost to Tayven Badger-Sam Woidyla, Brandon Valley, 10-3, in fifth-place semifinal match.
• Third Flight — Jadon Lindner-Zandar Binde def. Justin Ptak-Koleton Anderson, Harrisburg, 10-3; def. Max Phares-Tommy Nehring, RC Stevens, 10-2. Fifth place.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: State AA Boys Tennis: Sioux Falls Lincoln wins again, Watertown takes fifth
