Success continues to be a trademark of the Northfield High School boys tennis team in 2024, as the Raiders gained two more Big 9 Conference wins over the past week to improve their record to 6-1 and a second-place position in the conference standings this spring.
Northfield kicked off its week on Tuesday, April 23 with a 4-3 victory at Mankato East. The Raiders swept all three doubles matches and a win at fourth singles proved to be the winning margin.
At fourth singles, Eli Bengston tallied a 7-5, 6-1 win over Mankato East’s Zach Asfaw.
In doubles play, Joe Grant and Carter Borovsky gained a 7-5, 6-2 win at first doubles and the second doubles duo of Parker Sneary and Reuben Menk won 7-5, 6-3. To complete the sweep Dyson McBroom and Kyle Bulfer won a three set battle 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. In addition, Northfield’s Errol Lenzen and Gabriel Fischer-Navvara won 8-2 in a match at fourth doubles.
Northfield’s second win of the week was a 4-3 decision at home against Mankato West. The recipe for success was the same as Northfield swept the doubles matches and gained a win at fourth singles.
At third doubles, McBroom and Bulfer added another impressive win with a 6-3, 7-6 effort that included a 7-5 edge in the tiebreaker. At first doubles, Borovsky and Grant gained a 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) victory and the second doubles team of Menk and Sneary went three sets to gain a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win.
In singles, play Bengston charted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Mankato’s Leighton Betters.
“Wow what an exciting week of tennis! Two very close matches with both Mankato teams brought us two more victories,” Northfied coach Erik Swenson said. “During both matches, we were tied at 3-3 and the last match to finish both days was third doubles, with Dyson McBroom and Kyle Bulfer finishing close matches to get the fourth win each of the days.”
He added, “The wind definitely played a factor with tosses and serves and ground strokes, but our guys came through with great style. They showed poise and professionalism as they navigated tough competition, kept their emotions in check, and just played their game.
“Our toughest matchup was probably Mankato West at home, which had all three doubles teams win their first sets which were close, and then struggle in the second sets. Second doubles split sets and came back to win the third set, first doubles won the first set 7-5 and were behind 2-5 in the second set, and came back to win 7-6 in a close 7-5 tie break. Third doubles was in a similar situation, with a first set win 6-3, and then down 2-5 in the second set, battled back to win a tiebreaker 7-5.”
Swenson continued, “Our strategy so far, which has worked beautifully, is to sweep all the doubles matches and win just one singles match. That strategy got us victories for both Mankato teams this week. Our doubles teams are undefeated so far this season with all their matchups. Watching them play is electric — there’s so much energy with their play and excitement and shouting out motivation to neighboring courts and teammates, and the fist curls and shouts of “C’mon!!” every time they make a winning shot. I see this team going very far this season, probably the best record this team has seen in a long time.”
Northfield will continued its season on Tuesday, April 30 with a match at Owatonna and will be back home on Wednesday, May 1 with a 4:00 p.m. match against Rochester Mayo. On Saturday, May 4, Northfield win travel to Winona before hosting Farmington on Monday, May 6 at 4:45 p.m.
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