The Fisherman’s Picnic Tennis Tournament saw participants from across Minnesota, from six other states and from Canada. Players enjoyed three days of friendly competition. Tim Thiesen claimed the championship in the Men’s 50 Singles division.
Great weather and a diverse field of competitors made for an exciting 39th annual Fisherman’s Picnic Tennis Tournament, hosted by the Cook County Tennis Association. Players from across Minnesota, six other states, and Canada converged on the Grand Marais courts for three days to compete for the championship in eight events.
Unfortunately, the junior tournament had to be cancelled this year due to insufficient entrants. However the adult tournament was well attended with 47 people entered and 49 matches played. A large number of spectators came to watch the action and were treated to some top-notch competitive tennis with several matches extended into a third tiebreak set. As usual, the ice cream social Saturday afternoon was a big hit with both players and spectators.
Match play began Friday afternoon and continued all day Saturday and into Sunday afternoon under sometimes windy, but otherwise great playing conditions.
The Men’s Open Singles was won by Rohan Rakshit (Thunder Bay, Ont.) over Ryan Ortega (Winona, MN), 6-3, 6-4, with Garrett Lamppa (Virginia, MN) winning the consolation final.
Above left: Kimberly Christopher edged Lisa Topp out of the Women’s Open Singles championship, but the finalists were all smiles after the tough match. Above: The finalists in the Men’s 3.5 Singles, Bondo Nyembwe of Thunder Bay and Bryce Dodak of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, show off their tournament winnings. Dodak was the champion. Left: A very determined Rohan Rakshit of Thunder Bay won the Men’s Open Singles match.
The Women’s Open Singles was won by Kimberly Christopher (Thunder Bay, Ont.) over Lisa Topp (Silver Bay, MN) 6-2, 6-0, with Michelle Penwell (Mahtomedi, MN) winning the consolation final.
The Men’s 50 Singles was won by Tim Thiesen (Maple Grove, MN) over Scott Malmsten (Eden Prairie, MN), 6-1, 6-1, with Ron Filstrup (St. Paul, MN) claiming the consolation title.
The NRTP Men’s 3.5 Singles winner was Bryce Bodak (Thunder Bay, Ont.) in a tight match over Bondo Nyembwe (Vadnais, Heights, MN), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, with Maximilian Leduc (Thunder Bay, Ont.) taking the consolation title.
The Men’s Open Doubles champions went to the same team that won last year, Nikolai Johansen (St. Paul, MN) and Bob Skenzich (Duluth, MN). They defeated the Thunder Bay team of Jason Horychuck and Alan Humphreys, 6-3, 6-3, with the consolation final won by another Thunder Bay team, Connor Macintosh and Rohan Rakshit.
The Women’s Open Doubles title went to Cindy Kaplanis and Leeann Ryder (both from Thunder Bay, Ont.) who defeated Anne and Jennie Lijewski (Oakdale, MN) in a great match, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4. The team of Kathy Bolstad (Grand Marais) and Lynne Chalmers (Grand Forks, ND) won the consolation final.
The Mixed Open Doubles winners were Jeff Leduc and Cindy Kaplanis (both from Thunder Bay, Ont.) over Kathy Bolstad (Grand Marais, MN) and Carl Johnson (Green Valley, AZ), in another close match, 6-1, 2-6. 10-6. The consolation final was won by Lisa Topp (Silver Bay, MN) and Scott Malmsten (Eden Prairie, MN).
The Men’s 70 Doubles final was all Grand Marais players with Doug Graham and Bill Hennessey defeating Rod Wannebo and George Oullis, 6-4, 6-2.
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