Raiders aren’t deep but start with a solid core

MEDFORD BOYS TENNIS PREVIEW

While some of the key names have graduated or left, the Medford Raiders still hope the momentum built at the end of the 2021 boys tennis season carries into the start of 2022.

Mother Nature hasn’t exactly helped things in the early going, limiting outdoor practices in the first two weeks and postponing dual meets this week against Stevens Point Pacelli and Antigo.

But, with luck, the Raiders could get things going Saturday at the Baldwin-Woodville Quad, an event they won last year with a 3-0 record and setting the stage for one of the best seasons in program history. If the quad is able to be played, the Raiders will face the host Blackhawks, Osceola and Ashland in dual-meet competition.

“That will be a good test for us,” said Kyle Ranum, who was named the team’s new head coach this winter, replacing Jake Bucki who stepped aside after nine seasons at the helm, the last of which resulted in him being named the Great Northern Conference Coach of the Year. “We’ll see all of those teams in our subsectional. We’ll compete. We won it last year. We should have a chance to win it again this year. Of course I’m going to say that because I have faith in my guys.”

There aren’t a lot of guys on the initial roster. With just 11 players, varsity playing time is virtually certain for just about everybody. The team will be built around five returning letter winners who will be counted upon to do the heavy lifting, as well as two more sophomores who got some quality JV time and will likely be one of Medford’s doubles teams. Senior Quinton Tlusty and sophomore Brayden Balciar are primed to take the top two spots in the singles lineup.

Tlusty had a breakthrough year in 2021 at number-two singles, going 12-3 and falling one win shy of qualifying for the WIAA Division 2 state meet. He finished second in the Great Northern Conference tournament.

“Q is just becoming more consistent,” Ranum said. “Q can hit the big shots. Last year was his first year playing singles. He was a doubles player and it kind of showed because he did a lot of the chip-and-charge type of tennis. He did that really well last year, but now he has to be more consistent with his ground strokes. I can see those ground strokes are coming along already, much earlier than they did last year. I can see he retained some of that experience from last year.” Balciar had an outstanding year mainly at number-four singles, going 11-2 and earning the GNC and sectional championships in the flight. In practice, he looks to have added to his shot arsenal in preparation for the tougher competition he’ll see this year. “Last year his biggest attribute was he was consistent,” Ranum said. “In the lower levels, like three or four singles, if you are consistent you’re going to win matches and that’s what he had. He was super consistent. This year he brings some weapons. His forehand has gotten a lot better. He can actually utilize it to put away points this year and I’m hoping I’ll see that in the matches. It’s a matter of if he feels comfortable doing it. He can rip them. His serve has gotten a lot better. At the end of last year, his serve became a weapon. Now he can put away shots. That’s his big thing.”

Senior Brayden Machon and junior Dante Axon were sectional qualifiers at number-three doubles and finished 6-4 together. They could end up in the onespot this year as the Raiders have some re-loading to do in the doubles lineup.

Junior Saskatoon Damm teamed with Adam Swedlund to form a solid numbertwo doubles team last spring. Swedlund, however, has since moved to D.C. Everest.

“Sas and Adam were a match away from qualifying for sectionals last year,” Ranum said. “They ran into some pretty stiff competition. He’s another kid that could play singles or doubles. He’ll have to do both at some point.”

The returning sophomores Alex Wilson and Nathan Willman seem likely to start out at number- three doubles. “Nathan and Alex Wilson were 8-2 on JV, which was pretty impressive,” Ranum said. “Some of those wins coming against Rhinelander too.”

The four newcomers to the squad are junior Brett Lundy, sophomores Conner Klingbeil and Ryan Gonzalez and freshman Mason Reimann. Lundy and Klingbeil seem to be catching on quickly, Ranum said.

“Lundy is a junior in his first year playing,” Ranum said. “He’s actually pretty skilled. He’s coming along pretty quickly. Klingbeil is a good athlete with pretty good hand-eye coordination. He plays basketball that helps. He’s going to pop right into our lineup no problem. We’re going to need everyone to play.”

Along with Swedlund, the team’s other major losses to graduation were state individual qualifier Logan Searles, doubles state qualifiers Tahtankka and Kevin Damm and Ethan Swiantek, who went undefeated primarily at numberthree singles.

The 2021 Raiders finished second in the five-team Great Northern Conference, went 10-2 in dual meets and tied La Crosse Aquinas for the WIAA Division 2 sectional team championship, but were denied the team state berth on the third criteria of a quirky tiebreaker system that ignored the Raiders’ 3-0 record against the Blugolds during the sectional tournament.

“I hope that we can use last year as a springboard,” Ranum said.

Rhinelander, as always, appears to be the favorite and will be tough to beat in Great Northern Conference competition. The Hodags are scheduled to play in Medford April 14. From there, the Raiders think they compare favorably to Antigo, Stevens Point Pacelli and Lakeland. “It’s not that we can’t compete,” he said. “I think us and Rhinelander are at the top of the conference, especially with what we have coming back. Rhinelander, of course, is Rhinelander. Pacelli only has nine or 10 guys out. Lakeland only had two kids last year. Antigo has 10. They’re going to be good. They’re going to have a good singles lineup.”

Medford is scheduled to host Lakeland on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the home opener.

As for stepping into the head coaching role, Ranum said he’s excited about it.

“I’ve been coaching with the program for seven years as an assistant,” Ranum said. “It was a no-brainer to put my name in when it became available. Bucki has helped me with some of the smaller aspects because he’s been there, done that. Him and I are still pretty close so I’m going to rely on him with some of that stuff behind the scenes.”

Medford junior Dante Axon lobs the tennis ball back over the net as he hits with teammate Saskatoon Damm during Friday’s sun-soaked practice.MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS