VIRGINIA—When it comes down to a section final, Jace Friedlieb has full confidence in his team.
Watching his Rock Ridge boys’ tennis team take on Hibbing for a chance at yet another Section 7A crown, Friedlieb knows that the players he puts out on the court have strong odds to win the needed four points to secure a victory.
The Wolverines showed why their coach and the entire team should be confident as Rock Ridge downed the Bluejackets 5-2 to win their fourth straight section title on Thursday at the Virginia Indoor Tennis and Pickleball Club.
The day began with Rock Ridge dispatching Hermantown 7-0 in the first semifinal and Hibbing taking down Cloquet 5-2 in the later match. When the lineups were revealed for the championship, it was clear the Bluejackets came in with a game plan, moving most of their top players into doubles with the hope of picking up those three points and then finding a fourth somewhere in singles.
While the Wolverines could have mixed things up on their end as well, Friedlieb said after the match that he was confident the team would make it to four points regardless of the matchups on court.
“When you’re looking at those lineups, you look for your points,” the third-year head coach said. “And we knew that we had four points in any lineup we might use. I think our depth and experience made it very evident today that those guys in those spots were going to win their matches and that’s exactly what they did.”
Sweeping the Bluejackets 7-0 early in the season and then narrowly escaping with a 4-3 win at the end of the regular season, Friedlieb says that the differential at the end makes no difference when it comes to winning a section title.
“This time around, I really pushed that 4-3 score. I don’t care what it is; if we get four points, that’s a win for us. Yes, 7-0 is always fun and cool, but at the end of the day, we’re looking for those four points and these guys were able to get that today.”
The Wolverines secured their first point of the match at third singles when Will Peterson got on and off the court in less than an hour. The junior took down Hibbing junior Rex Walli without dropping a game, 6-0, 6-0.
The 1-0 lead became 2-0 not long after with Gage Benz completing his match at fourth singles. The Rock Ridge freshman looked strong throughout to pick up the 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Rock Ridge earned their third point at third doubles with Grady Dimberio and Tyler Callister fighting it out with Tyler Fisher and Joey Gabardi in two long sets. In the end, it was Dimberio and Callister that got the edge in both sets, winning 6-4, 6-4.
The section championship was secured moments after as second singles player Kasey Lamppa wrapped up a dominant 6-0, 6-0 performance against Brady Fosso, giving Rock Ridge the fourth point needed to take the win.
With yet another trip to state booked for the Wolverines, Friedlieb said it was the work of the entire team that led to another successful section run.
“I give a lot of credit to these guys because they attack every day like it’s brand new. They improve every single day and we design our practices to be competitive and intense and they work hard all year for us.
“Coming into today, they were very ready. You could tell they were locked in from the start and it all comes down to them. They put together some fantastic matches today to get us another section title.”
Hibbing’s efforts in changing the lineup paid off somewhat as Keaton Petrick and Whitaker Rewertz picked up the win at the No. 2 doubles spot, defeating Dawson Ruedebusch and Aidan Sandnas 7-5, 7-5.
Rock Ridge soon after secured their fifth point with Payton Marks defeating Isaiah Hildenbrand at the top singles spot 6-3, 6-1.
The last match to start was the last to finish as well as two pairs of seniors battled things out at No. 1 doubles. For Rock Ridge, it was Rory Cope-Robinson and Peyton Bailke while the Bluejackets put up Jack Gabardi and Cooper Hendrickson.
Gabardi and Hendrickson got the edge in the first set, winning 7-5 but the Wolverine pair bounced back and dominated the second set 6-1 to force the third. With the match already decided, the two duos played a first-to-10 tiebreaker to determine the point. In the end, it was Gabardi and Hendrickson that got the win, giving Hibbing two points to Rock Ridge’s five by the end of the day.
Seeing four seniors battle things out long after the match had been decided, Friedlieb said it was a fitting way for things to end.
“With our program, part of the success is from the trickle down theory. The seniors are No. 1 for us and we do everything we can for them. I wanted them to finish out that match and it didn’t matter how it ended because the match had already been decided.
“It’s a pride thing at that point and those four deserved to be on that court and deserved to finish out that match the right way and I think they did. They played hard and it was great all around.”
Since their first season on court in 2021, the Rock Ridge boys’ tennis team has known nothing but section titles. His third as the head coach of the team, Friedlieb says each one is just as great as the last.
“It never gets old. I gotta say that. With our depth the past few years, it was great for us to be able to mix up the lineup a little bit all season long and get some more guys in.
“I know those younger guys are watching and waiting in the wings and it can be tough to wait for your chance to play. They’re going to get out there soon enough but we’re going to enjoy this one just like any other. It never gets old.”
With the state tournament set for June 4-7, some Rock Ridge players will set their sights on next week’s individual section tournament. For the rest, it’s more time to keep getting better as they look towards their next test at state.
“All of the guys we have have been down there before. They’ve seen it and they know what to expect. The energy is high right now and they’re excited to get back down and see some of the best competition in the state. It’s an honor to be one of those teams and we’re looking forward to representing our section for another year.”
Rock Ridge 5, Hibbing 2Singles: No. 1 Payton Marks, RR, def. Isaiah Hildenbrand 6-3, 6-1; No. 2 Kasey Lamppa, RR, def. Brady Fosso 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Will Peterson, RR, def. Rex Walli 6-0, 6-0; No. 4 Gage Benz, RR, def. Benny Galli 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles: Jack Gabardi/Cooper Hendrickson, H, def. Rory Cope-Robinson/Peyton Bialke 7-5, 1-6, [10-7]; No. 2 Keaton Petrick/Whitaker Rewertz, H, def. Dawson Ruedebusch/Aidan Sandnas 7-5, 7-5; No. 3 Grady Dimberio/Tyler Callister, RR, def. Tyler Fisher/Joey Gabardi 6-4, 6-4.
Hibbing 5, Cloquet 2
Singles: No. 1 Ethan Lavan, C, def. Isaiah Hildenbrand 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 Cooper Hendrickson, H, def. Ethan Doty 6-3, 6-4; No. 3 Jack Gabardi, H, def. Max Sundquist 6-3, 6-4; No. 4 Marco Zegan, C, def. Rex Walli 6-1, 4-6, 7-6.
Doubles: No. 1 Keaton Petrick/Whitaker Rewertz, H, def. Joey Bender/Noah Bender 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 Tyler Fisher/Joey Gabardi, H, def. Devin Cary/Wesley Olson 6-1, 6-1; No. 4 Brady Fosso/Benny Galli, H, def. Tommy Radosevich/Chris Stoltzfus 6-0, 4-6, 6-0.
Rock Ridge 7, Hermantown 0
Singles: No. 1 Payton Marks, RR, def. Ford Skytta 6-2, 6-3; No. 2 Kasey Lamppa, RR, def. Gabe Swenson 6-0, 6-1; No. 3 Will Peterson, RR, def. Preston McClimek 6-2, 6-2; No. 4 Gage Benz, RR, def. Jace Christy 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: No. 1 Rory Cope-Robinson/Peyton Bialke, RR, def. Evan Flynn/Brody Matthews 6-2, 6-4; No. 2 Dawson Ruedebusch/Aidan Sandnas, RR, def. Keaton Rother/Nayan Watson 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 Grady Dimberio/Tyler Callister, RR, def. Brendan Bugliosi/Zach Shingler 6-1, 6-0.
SOFTBALL
Rock Ridge 7,
Chisago Lakes 1
LINDSTROM—The Rock Ridge softball team closed out the regular season on Wednesday with a 7-1 road win over Chisago Lakes.
The win likely gives the Wolverines the top seed heading into the upcoming Section 7AAA playoffs, but seedings will not be officially determined until some time this weekend.
The Wolverines held a 2-1 lead after five innings but broke the game open in the sixth, scoring three runs before tacking on two more in the seventh.
Taylor Morley got the win in the pitcher’s circle for Rock Ridge, giving up one run on four hits while striking out nine batters.
At the plate, Chance Colbert was 1-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Alex Flannigan finished 2-4 with two runs scored. Brooklyn Smith was 2-3 with a double and Ayla Lokken added a double.
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