The 37th annual Fisherman’s Picnic Tennis Tournament, July 31 – August 4, saw some great competition. Left: Men’s 50 Doubles Champions Scott Bergstrom and John Muus, both of Grand Marais. Above: Women’s Open Doubles Champions Taylor Gunderson and Alexis Gunderson.
A total of 60 tennis players, making up 75 entries in various events, participated in the 37th annual Fisherman’s Picnic Tennis Tournament, July 31 – Aug. 4 at the public tennis courts in Grand Marais. Tennis players came from all over the Midwest to participate in this tournament. The weather was a little windy at times, but the participants and fans enjoyed the sunny days. The overall number of participants for the tournament was down this year, but the competition in every event was strong. This made for exciting matches and fun tennis to watch. A large number of matches were determined by match tiebreakers. Many out-oftown participants commented on our nice tennis facilities and expressed an interest in coming back next year.
The Senior (age 50 and over) and Master (age 60 and over) events started on Wednesday, July 31, and concluded Thursday morning, Aug. 1. All matches consisted of two sets and a 10 point match tiebreak if players split sets.
In the Men’s 60 Singles quarterfinals, Rick Picard of White Rock, NM won the championship, defeating Ron Filstrup, St. Paul, 6-0,6-2.
In the Men’s 50 Doubles three-team round robin competition, Scott Bergstrom and John Muus (Grand Marais) won the championship by defeating Andy Driver and Bill Thomas (John’s Island, SC), 6-1,6-0 and Carl Johnson (Green Valley, AZ) and Marv Weber (Appleton, WI), 4-6,6-3,1-0 (8). In the other match, Carl Johnson and Marv Weber defeated Andy Driver and Bill Thomas, 6-2,6-1.
In the Men’s 70 Doubles three-team round robin competition, John Jackson (Minnetonka) and Peter Ranum (Grand Marais) won the championship by defeating Bill Hennessy (Grand Marais) and Carleton “Tex” Hoy (Sioux Falls, SD and Grand Marais), 7-6 (4), 6-3 and George Oullis (Grand Marais) and Rod Wannebo (Grand Marais), 6-3, 7-6 (5). In the other match, George Oullis and Rod Wannebo defeated Bill Hennessy and Tex Hoy, 6-4,5-7,1-0 (6).
Upper far left: Men’s 70 Doubles Champions John Jackson of Minnetonka and Peter Ranum of Grand Marais. Lower left: NTRP Combined Men’s 8.0 Doubles Champions Roger Johnson of Hibbing and Dave Gunderson of Virginia. Above left: Men’s 60 Singles Champion, Rick Picard, White Rock, NM. Above middle: Girls’ 18 Singles Champion, Evie Mackenzie (Minneapolis). Above right: Boys’ 16 Singles Champion, Brendan Boudreau (Thunder Bay, ON)
In the Mixed 50 Doubles semi-finals, Jim and Laural Swifka (Green Valley, AZ) defeated Scott and Lee Bergstrom (Grand Marais), 6-3,3-6,1-0 (4), and Carl Johnson (Green Valley, AZ) and Kathy Bolstad (Grand Marais) defeated Ron Filstrup and Linda Wright (Burnsville), 6-1,6-0. Carl Johnson and Kathy Bolstad won the championship, defeating Jim and Laural Swifka, 2-3,Ret. (inj.) after Jim went down with an injury.
The Fisherman’s Picnic Jr. Tennis Tournament took place Aug. 1 – 2, with 11 participants, ages 12-18, playing singles. The competition and skill level were very good this year. The regular matches consisted of two of three sets and the consolation matches consisted of an eight-game pro set.
In the Boys’ 16 Singles quarterfinals, Brendan Boudreau of Thunder Bay, ONT won the championship, defeating Pete Summers of Grand Marais, 6-1,6-0. Ryan Ortega of Winona won the consolation championship by defeating Jacob Seitz, Mountain Iron, 8-2, and Logan Ross, Cottage Grove 8-2.
In the Girls’ 18 Singles Evie Mackenzie, Minneapolis, won the championship, defeating Mackenzie Rixe, Rogers, MN, in a close match 7-6(5), 6-4. Mckenzie Phelps, Virginia, won the consolation championship, defeating Cassandra Cornell, Virginia, 8-2.
Forty-nine tennis players, making up 64 entries, participated in the adult tournament events, including the Seniors and Masters events.
In the Men’s Open Singles, Connor Oberle of Excelsior, who is David Bergstrom’s roommate and tennis teammate at the University of North Dakota, won the championship by defeating former Cook County Viking player Bergstrom, 6-2,6-2. Guthrie Coughlin of Staples, MN, won the consolation championship by defeating Andrew MacArthur, 8-5.
In the Men’s Open Doubles Connor Oberle and Jared Vigen, Grand Forks, ND, won the championship by defeating David Bergstrom and Guthrie Coughlin, 6-4,6-2.
In the Women’s Open Doubles Alexis and Taylor Gunderson of Virginia won the championship by defeating Kathy Bolstad and Lee Bergstrom of Grand Marais, 6-1,6-2. In a consolation match, Judy and Mackenzie Rixe of Rogers, MN defeated Kathy Bolstad and Lee Bergstrom, 6-2,6-2.
In the Mixed Open Doubles Dave and Alexis Gunderson of Virginia won the championship by defeating Scott and Lee Bergstrom of Grand Marais, 6-1,6-4.
In the NTRP Combined Men’s 8.0 Doubles three-team round robin competition, Dave Gunderson (Virginia) and Roger Johnson (Hibbing) won the championship by defeating Carl Johnson and John Muus (Grand Marais), 6-2,3-6,1-0 (6) and Robert and Luke Palmer (Lakeville), 6-2,6-0. In the other match, Carl Johnson and John Muus defeated Robert and Luke Palmer, 6-1,6-4.
In the Men’s 4.0 Singles John Muus won the championship defeating his nephew, Luke Palmer of Lakeville, MN, 6-0,6-0.
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