Watertown holds off Aberdeen Central to win ESD girls tennis tournament

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·4 min read

MITCHELL — An exceptional season for Watertown High School's girls tennis team just keeps getting better.

The Arrows capped a 14-3 dual season last week and followed Tuesday by holding off Aberdeen Central to win the Eastern South Dakota Conference tournament.

The ESD title was the eighth in school history and the first since 2018 for Watertown, which outscored the Golden Eagles 282-255 in the nine-team meet. Pierre followed at 214.5, Mitchell 164.5, Yankton 164 and Brandon Valley 135.5.

"If you look at the scores, there are 4-5 teams that are real close," said Watertown head coach Ryan Zink. "We started off the day playing really well in singles and Aberdeen made a crazy run in doubles."

Singles titles from Jaida Young (first flight), Josie Heyn (fourth flight) and Faith Berg (fifth flight) and a runner-up finish from Sophia Nichols (sixth flight) sparked Watertown. Young also teamed with Leyla Meester to win the second flight doubles titles.

The biggest win for Watertown came from Young and Meester, who won 10-9 after a tiebreaker in the second flight doubles championship against Aberdeen Central's Carly Comstock and Livia Douglas.

"It got real interesting in doubles. We really needed a win and got it," said Zink.

Ellie Zink (second flight) and Meester (third flight) each finished fourth in singles for the Arrows. Zink and Heyn also teamed for a fourth-place finish at No. 1 doubles and Berg and Nichols took sixth at No. 3 doubles.

Young was named the Guardian of the Gold for Watertown's homecoming week Monday night and the team took off for Mitchell after that.

"We didn't get in until 11 p.m. and we started playing Tuesday at 8 a.m.," he said. "It's 8:15 p.m. now as we're walking off the court. Every single girl played some long matches."

Aberdeen Central also had a solid day, especially in doubles where Emily Ringgenberg and Alice Vogel won the first flight and Laney Gonsor and Reece Comstock did the same in the third flight. As mentioned above, Carly Comstock and Douglas finished a close second at No. 2 doubles.

In singles, Avery Tennant captured the sixth flight singles title and Ringgenberg added a third-place finish in the first flight. Dougl;as was fourth in the fourth flight and Carly Comstock and Laney Gonsor took fifth in the third and fifth flight, respectively.

The Watertown and Aberdeen Central teams will compete Thursday and Friday, Oct. 6-7 in the state Class AA tournament at Rapid City.

Team Scores: Watertown 282, Aberdeen Central 255, Pierre 214.5, Mitchell 164.5, Yankton 164, Brandon Valley 135.5, Huron 55.5, Harrisburg 18.5, Brookings 0.

SINGLES

Championship

First Flight: Jaida Young, Watertown, def. Nora Krajewski, Yankton, 10-5.

Second Flight: Sabrina Krajewski, Yankton, def. Michaela Jerke, Brandon Valley, 10-3.

Third Flight: Carsyn Welch, Mitchell, def. Marlee Shorter, Pierre, 10-5.

Fourth Flight: Josie Heyn, Watertown, def. Jocelyn Corrales, Pierre, 10-6.

Fifth Flight: Faith Berg, Watertown, def. Say Ma, Huron, 10-6.

Sixth Flight: Avery Tennant, Aberdeen Central, def. Sophia Nichols, Watertown, 10-1.

Third Place

First Flight: Emily Ringgenberg, Aberdeen Central, def. Marie Pellieter, Brandon Valley, 8-7 (1).

Second Flight: Delaney Degen, Mitchell, def. Ellie Zink, Watertown, 8-3.

Third Flight: Addison Meyers, Brandon Valley, def. Leyla Meester, Watertown, 8-4.

Fourth Flight: Frannie Kouri, Yankton, def. Livia Douglas, Aberdeen Central, 8-7 (2).

Fifth Flight: Kourtney Walti, Pierre, def. Teya Badger, Brandon Valley, 8-3.

Sixth Flight: Maddie Childs, Mitchell, def. Caitlin Ott, Pierre, 8-4.

Fifth Place

First Flight: Sydney Tedrow, Pierre, def. McKenzie Vickery, Harrisburg, 8-0.

Second Flight: Kara Weiss, Pierre, def. Erika Starr, Harrisburg, 8-1.

Third Flight: Carly Comstock, Aberdeen Central, def. Bianca Medina, Huron, 8-5.

Fourth Flight: Maddie Eisenbeisz, Harrisburg, def. Bethany Engelhart, Huron, 8-5.

Fifth Flight: Laney Gonsor, Aberdeen Central, def. Ireland Blindauer, Mitchell, 8-4.

Sixth Flight: Evelyne Lima-Zapon, Yankton, def. Keera Kreich, Brandon Valley, 8-5.

DOUBLES

Championship

First Flight: Emily Ringgenberg-Alice Vogel, Aberdeen Central, def. Sydney Tedrow-Kara Weiss, Pierre, 10-7.

Second Flight: Jaida Young-Leyla Meester, Watertown, def. Carly Comstock-Livia Douglas, Aberdeen Central, 10-9 (0).

Third Flight: Laney Gonsor and Reese Comstock, Aberdeen Central, def. Jocelyn Corrales-Caitlin Ott, Pierre, 10-9 (0).

Third Place

First Flight: Nora-Sabrina Krawjewski, Yankton, def. Ellie Zink-Josie Heyn, Watertown, 8-3.

Second Flight: Carsyn Welch-Megan Mastel, Mitchell, def. Addison Meyer-Melia Thelen, Brandon Valley, 8-3.

Third Flight: Elly Clement-Mia Larson, Mitchell, def. Reagan Morrell-Keera Kriech, Brandon Valley, 8-6.

Fifth Place

First Flight: Amber Moller-Delaney Degen, Mitchell, def. AnneClaire Rubish-Lizzy Heinen, Huron, 8-3.

Second Flight: Marlee Shorter-Kourtney Walti, Pierre, def. Bianca Medina-Bethany Engelhart, Huron, 8-2.

Third Flight: Say Ma-Ann Hoek, Huron, def. Faith Berg-Sophia Nichols, Watertown, 8-7 (6).

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown girls capture first conference tourney title since 2018.