David Bergstrom, the No. 1 singles player for the University of North Dakota gets ready to return a serve in a recent collegiate tennis match. Bergstrom, a two-time team captain, graduates this spring and will leave as one of the school’s best tennis players. David is the son of Scott and Lee Bergstrom, Grand Marais.
It seems like yesterday David Bergstrom was playing basketball and tennis for Cook County High School, but in reality, it was four fast years ago.
In high school Bergstrom was a first team All-Conference guard and a two-time qualifier for the state tennis tournament.
Since his graduation the boys’ basketball team has gone through several coaching changes and the boys’ and girls’ tennis program is but a distant memory.
During that time Bergstrom took his tennis racket to college and has been a member of the University of North Dakota’s Division 1 tennis team. The first couple of years, David played plenty of matches but rarely won. The jump from playing outdoors in Grand Marais (infrequently and often in the cold) to competing against athletes who mostly played year-round since they were young was a decisive disadvantage.
Or a challenge.
“As a freshman, I began playing No. 3 doubles and worked to break into the singles line-up,” said Bergstrom. “With hard work, use of various resources and dedication to time on the court I am now playing No. 1 singles and doubles my senior year. It was an honor to be named co-captain of the team my junior and senior years: along with most valuable player my junior year.”
Bergstrom ended his career this past week with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Sebastian Edin of Idaho State. For the season he finished as UND’s top No. 1 singles player, recording 6 wins.
Bergstrom’s 15 career singles wins ranks him third in school history, finishing behind classmates Connor Oberle and Joe Lee, who each finished with 16 singles wins.
Also a fine doubles player, Bergstrom ended with 16 doubles wins to finish 2nd in that category in the program’s history.
On May 14 David will graduate with a major in kinesiology and minor in psychology. Following graduation he will take a year off to work and will then head to graduate school for physical therapy.
“My passion for tennis began while growing up in Cook County. I was fortunate to have great mentors like John Muus, Pat Colbert and my parents who helped me develop as a player, as well as organizations like the Cook County Tennis Association and USTA Northern who supported me in our tennis community,” said Bergstrom.
David is the son of Lee and Scott Bergstrom of Grand Marais.
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