Left: In the Vikings’ first match against Duluth East, eighth graders Libby Zafft (in front) and Brenna Hay played #1 doubles. They won their match (6-1,6-4), becoming the first Cook County varsity tennis players to win a match. Above: Players on the 2010 Cook County girls’ varsity tennis team were all smiles after their first two tennis matches of the season September 1 at Duluth Central High School. This is the first year Cook County High School has had tennis teams. The girls’ tennis season is during the fall and the boys’ tennis season during the spring. (L-R, back) Molly Zafft, Shelby Ahrendt and Cecilia Schnobrich (L-R, front) Brenna Hay and Libby Zafft.
The 2010 Cook County girls’ varsity tennis team enjoyed its first-ever varsity tennis match experience on September 1, at Duluth Central High School. The CCHS girls’ team competed as an undersized team— presently five team members— against a large Duluth East team and large Duluth Denfeld-Duluth Central team. The Viking tennis team competed against Duluth East at noon and against Duluth Denfeld-Duluth Central at 2:30 p.m., on a hot, sunny day.
Minnesota high school tennis matches are set up so 10 players from each team can play matches. The match lineups include a #1 singles, #2 singles, #3 singles, #4 singles, #1 doubles, #2 doubles, and #3 doubles. A team gets one point for every match (event) it wins (seven possible points) and must win at least four matches to win the team competition. Each tennis player can only play in one event, singles or doubles.
The five CCHS players competed at #1 singles, #2 singles, #3 singles and #1 doubles. They had to forfeit the other match events (#4 singles, #2 doubles, #3 doubles) because of a lack of players. So the opposing teams began the competition with three points.
The CCHS girls’ tennis team played well in its first match against a strong Duluth East team. The Viking girls won two of the four matches they played against Duluth East and ended up losing 5-2 for the team score.
In the #1 singles competition, Shelby Ahrendt (CC) lost a hard fought match with Caroline Skinner, 6-4,6-2. At #2 singles, Molly Zafft (CC) lost a close match with Elise Hauer (DE), 6-3,6-4. At #3 singles, Cecilia Schnobrich (CC) came back to defeat Annagrace Norr (DE), 1-6,6- 2,6-3.
Eighth graders, Libby Zafft and Brenna Hay (CC) had the distinction of winning the first varsity tennis match for Cook County, defeating Olivia Dawson-Olson and Paige Kidd (DE), 6-1,6-4.
In the later match against a combined Duluth Denfeld- Duluth Central tennis team, the Viking girls continued to show their competitiveness. Again, the CCHS girls’ tennis team won two of the four match events it competed in and fell short in the team score, losing 5-2.
In the #1 singles competition, Shelby Ahrendt (CC) played well, defeating Paige Schueler (DD-DC), 6-4,3- 6,1-0 (4). At #2 singles, Cecilia Schnobrich lost a close match to Anna Fry (DD-DC), 6-3,6- 4. At #3 singles, Libby Zafft (CC) won her second match of the day, defeating Naomi Robinson (DD-DC), 6-1,7-6 (2). At #1 doubles, Molly Zafft and Brenna Hay (CC) lost to Eryn Mlodozyniec and Fonta Zimm (DD-DC), 6-0,6-1.
It was an exciting and historic day for the CCHS girls’ varsity tennis team. The Viking girls were competitive in all but one of their matches and they had a very enjoyable experience. The opposing coaches were a little surprised at how competitive and skilled our small group of girls are, this being our first year of varsity tennis. They also commented on the athleticism and good sportsmanship of our girls, predicting future success with such a good core group of players.
We invite more students interested in learning and playing competitive tennis to join the team and share in this fun and worthwhile experience.
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