Panthers finish third in Mid-State

Park Rapids had two doubles teams crowned champions as the Mid-State Conference girls tennis tournament concluded Wednesday at the Depot Courts and Century School courts.

Mindy Lawrence and Mary Kading won the conference title at No. 1 doubles while Alyssa Klingenberg and Alyssa Carlson captured the conference title at No. 2 doubles as Park Rapids finished third in the conference standings with 28 points. Both doubles teams entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed.

Bonnie Baumgartner, the No. 2 seed, advanced to the title match at No. 4 singles while Megan Lawrence, the No. 5 seed, finished third at No. 1 singles.

Dena Johanning and Rachel Thelen, the No. 3 seed, finished fourth at No. 3 doubles. Karly Dickinson, the No. 4 seed, finished fourth at No. 3 singles. Allie Girtz, the No. 7 seed, placed sixth at No. 2 singles.

Staples-Motley won all four singles titles to repeat as conference champs with 39 points. Pequot Lakes, which reached the championship in four matches, finished second with 31 points.

The conference tournament was completed Wednesday after the meet had to be suspended because of rain last Saturday.

"All the girls did a nice job and played well," said Park Rapids head coach Nicole Brandt. "Our first and second doubles teams were strong as usual and showed once again that they are strong forces on this team. Megan played a great final match against Megan Lenz, who she lost to the night before. It was fun to see her win the rematch. We did not get the final outcome that we wanted, but it will give us a reason to work harder for the next match."

Team scores: Staples-Motley 39, Pequot Lakes 31, Park Rapids 28, Wadena-Deer Creek 18, Perham 16, Crosby-Ironton 8, Detroit Lakes 7.

Championship matches

No. 1 singles: Abby Edin, S-M, over Katie Anderson, W-DC, 6-0, 6-1.

No. 2 singles: Skye Coughlin, S-M, over Angela Villella, PL, 6-2, 6-4.

No. 3 singles: Emma Koskiniemi, S-M, over Sarah Thomas, PL, 6-0, 6-1.

No. 4 singles: Andrea Koskiniemi, S-M, over Bonnie Baumgartner, PR, 6-0, 6-1.

No. 1 doubles: Mindy Lawrence/Megan Lawrence, PR, over Kirstie Harmdierks/Cori Lundmark, PL, 6-3, 6-4.

No. 2 doubles: Alyssa Klingenberg/Alyssa Carlson, PR, over Liz Willgohs/Caitlin Robinson, S-M, 6-0, 6-4.

No. 3 doubles: Hallie Denning/Savannah Hill, S-M, over Molly Peterson/Carol Meister, PL, 6-2, 6-1.

Park Rapids results

Megan Lawrence (No. 1 singles): defeated Joelle Langworthy, DL, 7-5, 6-0; lost to Abby Edin, S-M, 6-1, 6-0; defeated Megan Lenz, PL, 6-1, 6-1 (third).

Allie Girtz (No. 2 singles): lost to Angela Villella, PL, 6-0, 6-1; defeated Brittany Mesta, C-I, 6-2, 6-1; lost to Becca Huebsch, P, 7-5, 7-6 (10-8) (sixth).

Karly Dickinson (No. 3 singles): defeated Sam Eckhoff, W-DC, 6-2, 6-0; lost to Emma Koskiniemi, S-M, 6-0, 6-0; lost to Emily Lindberg, P, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 (fourth).

Bonnie Baumgartner (No. 4 singles): defeated Laurenn Johnson, DL, 6-3, 6-0; defeated Hannah Brink, P, 6-2, 6-0; lost to Andrea Koskiniemi, S-M, 6-0, 6-1 (second).

Mindy Lawrence/Mary Kading (No. 1 doubles): bye; defeated Julie Schock/Ashley Lisson, S-M, 7-5, 6-1; defeated Kirstie Harmdierks/Cori Lundmark, PL, 6-3, 6-4 (first).

Alyssa Klingenberg/Alyssa Carlson (No. 2 doubles): bye; defeated Kayla Minarich/Heather Robinson, C-I, 6-2, 6-1; defeated Liz Willgohs/Caitlin Robinson, S-M, 6-0, 6-4 (first).

Dena Johanning/Rachel Thelen (No. 3 doubles): defeated Ashley Barutt/Jessica Lindstrom, C-I, 6-0, 6-0; lost to Molly Peterson/Carol Meister, PL, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3; lost to Emily Ament/Brittany Anderson, W-DC, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 (fourth).

Panthers top Pequot Lakes

The Panthers tuned up for the completion of the conference tournament by edging Pequot Lakes 4-3 Tuesday night at Pequot Lakes.

Park Rapids, which lost to Pequot Lakes 4-3 earlier in the season, used a sweep in doubles and a win at No. 4 singles to avenge that loss.

Baumgartner prevailed in straight sets at No. 4 singles while Klingenberg and Carlson won in straight sets at No. 2 doubles.

The other two doubles matches went three sets as Mindy Lawrence and Kading at No. 1 doubles and Thelen and Johanning at No. 3 doubles had to rally after dropping the first set.

The win gives the Panthers a 6-2 record in Mid-State Conference matches and an 11-2 overall record in dual meets. Park Rapids was rated No. 9 in this week's state Class A poll, behind No. 4 Staples-Motley and ahead of No. 10 Pequot Lakes.

"I found out that we were ranked in state after the Mid-State matches were done," said Brandt, whose team will face Thief River Falls, East Grand Forks and Roseau Thursday at Thief River Falls. "It is exciting that the girls are being recognized at that high level. Our goal will now be to get a little higher on that list."

Park Rapids 4, Pequot Lakes 3

No. 1 singles: Megan Lenz, PL, over Megan Lawrence 6-3, 6-3.

No. 2 singles: Angela Villella, PL, over Allie Girtz 6-1, 6-0.

No. 3 singles: Jasmine Nordby, PL, over Karly Dickinson 6-2, 6-1.

No. 4 singles: Bonnie Baumgartner, PR, over Tricia Villella 6-4, 6-3.

No. 1 doubles: Mindy Lawrence/Mary Kading, PR, over Kirstie Harmdierks/Cori Lundmark 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

No. 2 doubles: Alyssa Klingenberg/Alyssa Carlson, PR, over Katelyn Schmidt/Kaycee Nelson 6-1, 6-1.

No. 3 doubles: Rachel Thelen/Dena Johanning, PR, over Molly Peterson/Carol Meister 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.