By John George
It was a tough day for the Yellowjacket netters on Tuesday.
First, Monday's team play-in game was moved to Tuesday because of rain. No. 5 seeded Perham was eliminated in the Section 8A first round against No. 4 Park Rapids, 6-1.
The Jackets lone win was a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 2 singles by Cody Gustafson. Gus Rutten lost a three set match at No. 1 singles, as did Scott Eickschen at No. 4 singles.
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No. 1 Thief River Falls beat Park Rapids in one semifinal, with No. 3 Crookston upsetting No. 2 East Grand Forks in the other semi. TRF then went on to defend their 8A title with a 6-1 win over Crookston in the finals. TRF was the Class A Consolation Champ in 2006.
In the singles tournament, No. 10 seed Gustafson was eliminated in the first round by No. 7 Brandon Skime of TRF, 6-3, 6-2. Rutten, the No. 5 seed, played his first match Wednesday morning against No. 4 seed Michael Lukkarson of East Grand Forks.
In the doubles tournament, Perham's Nick Delaney and Mike Howey, seeded No. 8, lost a first round match to the No. 9 seeded Park Rapids team of Pederson and Kent, 6-2, 6-4. The No. 10 seeded East Grand Forks team of Spitsberg and Kretzinger eliminated No. 7 John Carlson and Tim Buchin in the first round, 6-0, 6-0.
Season finale
Perham was able to finish the regular season off with two matches at home. Unfortunately, they dropped both, to Detroit Lakes, 5-2, and Staples-Motley, 5-2. The Jackets had just three home dates this season.
Senior Cody Gustafson went out in style on his home court, winning both of his matches at No. 2 singles. Mike Buer won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3 singles against Detroit Lakes and the No. 1 singles team of John Carlson and Tim Buchin won at No. 1 doubles by forfeit against Staples-Motley.
Rutten lost a tough battle at No. 1 singles against Detroit Lakes, losing a three-set match, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. Scott Eickschen also lost a three setter at No. 4 singles against the Lakers. he won the first set 6-4, before dropping the final two, 6-4 and 10-8.
The No. 3 doubles team of Joe Berns and Dylan Aschcroft won their first set against D.L., 6-0. They lost the second set by the same score before losing the tiebreaker, 10-8.
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Thursday, May 17
Perham Triangular
Detroit Lakes 5, Perham 2
Singles
1. Borgeson (DL) def. Gus Rutten, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5; 2. Cody Gustafson (P) def. Hartman, 3-6, 7-5, 7-1; 3. Mike Buer (P) def. Roethel, 6-3, 6-4; 4. Schneider (DL) def. Scott Eickschen, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
Doubles
1. Stein & Nustad (DL) def. John Carlson & Tim Buchin, 6-4, 6-4; 2. VanOffelen & Butzer (DL) def. Nick Delaney & Mike Howey, 6-4, 6-4; 3. Montplaisir & Chelmo (DL) def. Joe Berns & Dylan Ashcroft, 0-6, 6-0, 8-6.
Staples-Motley 5, Perham 2
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Singles
1. Pederson (SM) def. Rutten, 6-3, 6-3; 2. Gustafson (P) def. Denning, 6-1, 6-0; 3. Wentworth (SM) def. Buer, 6-0, 6-0; 4. Kozitka (SM) def. Eickschen, 6-2, 6-4.
Doubles
1. Carlson & Buchin (P) def. Lindeman & Wilhowe, FF; 2. Houselog & Peterson (SM) def. Delaney & Howey, 6-1, 6-1; 3. Duhn & Smith (SM) def. Berns & Brandon Lange, 6-0, 6-3.
Tuesday, May 22
8A Section Tournament Play-In
#4 Park Rapids 6, #5 Perham 1
