Raiders have outstanding day at quad, get upended by Rhinelander

MEDFORD BOYS TENNIS

The Rhinelander Hodags haven’t won six straight Great Northern Conference boys tennis championships by accident. Despite some key losses to graduation the past two springs, they’re showing in the first week of the 2021 season they are once again re-loading for another title run.

After beating three Wisconsin Valley Conference teams at the Wausau West Invitational Saturday, the Hodags continued to roll Tuesday, beating Medford 6-1 in a GNC dual meet that was a bit closer than the team score would indicate. Both teams came into the meet at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the GNC.

“We were extremely pleased with how the guys competed,” Medord head coach Jake Bucki said. “There were a few first sets where we were adjusting to the different level of play compared to what we’ve seen. Just staying focused on improving was the key.” The lower flights featured some tight matches, including a pair of three-setters in singles play.

Medford senior Ethan Swiantek was the Raiders’ winner as he beat Rhinelander sophomore Leo Losch 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (6) in a marathon match in flight three. Swiantek is off to a 4-0 start in singles.

In flight four, freshman Adam Swedlund went the distance with Rhinelander senior Joey Sturzl. Those two played a fantastic first two sets, splitting wins in tiebreaks. Sturzl won the first set 7-6 by taking the tiebreak 7-5. Swedlund took the second set 7-6 by winning the tiebreak 8-6. Sturzl, however, got momentum in the third set and won it 6-2 to take the match.

At number-three doubles, Medford’s Saskatoon Damm and Brayden Balciar lost in straight sets, but they gave seniors Jake Losch and Joseph Heck a fight in the Hodags’ 7-5, 6-3 win.

2019 GNC Player of the Year Jacob Weddle beat Medford’s Logan Searles 6-3, 6-1 in number-one singles and freshman Joey Belanger beat Raider Quinton Tlusty 6-1, 6-4 at number-two. It was the first loss for both Raid- ers.

Juniors Luke Ring and Elijah Evers swept Medford seniors Tahtankka Damm and Kevin Damm 6-2, 6-3 at number-one doubles. Billy Berwig and Layne Roeser were 6-2, 6-4 winners at number-two doubles over Raider juniors Colbe Bull and Brayden Machon.

“Many of the boys were talking about how they can’t wait to play them in Medford, so that drive is a great thing,” Bucki said.

Things don’t figure to get easier for the Raiders Friday when they host the GNC’s other year-in, year-out contender Antigo at 4:30 p.m. Antigo visits Rhinelander today, Thursday, in a key early-season battle. The Raiders host Eau Claire Regis Monday in non-conference play and resume GNC competition Tuesday by hosting Stevens Point Pacelli. Medford goes to Antigo on May 20.

3-0 at B-W Quad

Bucki and assistant coach Kyle Ranum were able to mix and match the lineups and yet have a very good day Saturday at the Baldwin-Woodville Quad. The Raiders went 3-0 in the dual meets, and were 20-1 in matches played, including some experience-building three-set wins.

“We had an outstanding day,” Bucki said. “Everybody played a role in Saturday’s success. Performances that really stuck out were from Brayden Balciar and Ethan Swiantek. Brayden showed that he can play consistently in singles, but he can also put points away in the doubles lineup. Versatility like that is so important throughout the season and in conference duals.”

In a 7-0 win over Ashland, Swiantek got his shot to play at number-one singles and rallied to beat Austin Vyskocil. Vyskocil won the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (5), but Swiantek evened things with a 6-1 win the second set. He took the thirdset tiebreaker 10-7.

“Vyskocil’s older sisters both had state runs recently in girls tennis and he will likely follow their path if he keeps working like he has,” Bucki said. “Ethan’s ability to change the pace of play and use different spins is what ultimately earned him the victory.”

In other singles matches, Swedlund beat Bodee Mikkonen 6-2, 6-1 in flight two, Balciar shut out Stasz Kaszuba 6-0, 6-0 in flight three and Dante Axon was a forfeit winner at number four.

In doubles, Searles and Tlusty dominated Jason Van Horn and Bergen Brew at number-one 6-0, 6-0, Kevin and Tahtankka Damm took care of Sasha Williamson and Gage Kabasa 6-0, 6-1 at number- two and Bull and Saskatoon Damm dominated Marshall Swanson and Harry Diesberg 6-1, 6-0 in flight three.

“Logan and Quinton both have an aggressive mindset in their approach to matches,” Bucki said. “I think seeing their success against opponents’ top players paved the way for their teammates.”

Another of the three-set wins was part of a 7-0 sweep over Osceola. Kevin and Tahtankka Damm went the distance at number-one doubles against Travis Jennings and Jackson Dvorak, rallying from a 6-7 (5) loss in the opening set to win set two 6-3 and the tiebreaker 10-8.

“Kevin and Tank improved throughout the day and really started to become aware of how important shot selection and placement are in the doubles game,” Bucki said.

Elsewhere in doubles, Swiantek and Bull won the number-two match over Ethan Landgreen and William Huhn 6-4, 6-0 and Swedlund and Dante Axon won the number-three match over Ethan Race and Mason Utke 6-1, 6-0.

Medford swept the singles matches in straight sets. Searles beat Gavin Almlie in flight one 6-2, 6-3, Tlusty beat Brayden Thomas at number-two 6-1, 6-3, Balciar swept August Dressel in flight three 6-0, 6-0 and Saskatoon Damm was a 6-1, 6-3 winner at number-four over Carson Holman.

Saskatoon Damm and Balciar had the highlight match in Medford’s 6-1 win over Baldwin-Woodville. Playing at number- two doubles, they dropped their first set 6-4 to Tyler Barnett and Ethan Rumpel. The Raiders, though, bounced back with a 6-1 win in the second set and took the match with a 10-5 win in the third-set tiebreaker.

Bull and Axon won the number-three match 6-0, 6-1 over Brady Mueller and Wyatt Smestad. The Blackhawks got the lone win at number-one doubles where 2019 flight-three sectional qualifiers Sam Sykora and Caleb Lokker beat Tahtankka and Kevin Damm 6-2, 6-2.

“Colbe has picked the sport up quickly and, once he learns the proper positioning, he will be an outstanding doubles player,” Bucki said. “As the day progressed, his volleys went from just putting it in to placing it at opponents’ feet and splitting them.”

In singles, Searles beat Tyler Smigla 6-0, 6-1 in flight one, Tlusty handled Gus Kroening 6-1, 6-1 in flight two, Swiantek was a 6-4, 6-0 winner over Michael Krinke at number-three and Swedlund beat Parker Schutz 6-2, 6-1 at number-four.

Baldwin-Woodville beat Osceola and Ashland 7-0. Osceola was a 5-2 winner over Ashland. Medford could see players from all three teams again next month in post-season play.

“With many guys who had no or minimal varsity match experience, you always wonder what you’re going to get during those first match opportunities,” Bucki said. “Our team showed they were more than ready right from the start. Six of 10 varsity players earned their first varsity victories.”

Medford 7, Lakeland 0

The Lakeland Thunderbirds only brought two players to Friday’s GNC and season opener and Searles and Tlusty made quick work of both.

Searles was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Zac Muenzner at number-one singles and Tlusty beat Max Bybee by the same score in flight two.

Forfeit wins were granted to Swiantek and Swedlund in flights three and four. Tahtankka and Kevin Damm, Bull and Machon and Balciar and Saskatoon Damm got the forfeit wins in doubles flights.