Boys Tennis: Magicians finish 3rd at WDA Tourney, punch ticket to state

Connor Ressler hadn’t lost a doubles match in West Region competition all season long. So when he and Calvin Olson were tasked with winning the deciding match to send the Minot High boys tennis to the state tournament, the junior once again delivered.

Ressler and Olson defeated Bismarck Century’s Mason Wagendorf and Jacob Gross 6-0, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles to lift the Magicians to a 3-2 victory over the Patriots in a state-qualifying match at the West Region Tournament at Tom O’Leary Courts in Bismarck on Thursday, Oct. 2. As a result, the Magicians earned their 16th straight trip to the state tournament and will be the No. 3 seed. The Magi are 72-62 lifetime at the state tournament.

The Magicians won two of three singles matches, with Nolan Moore defeating Ryan Mullally, 6-4, 7-5, at No. 1 singles and Oliver Thompson topping Cullen Satrom, 7-6, 6-2, at No. 2 singles to grab a 2-1 advantage heading into doubles.

The Magi almost locked up their spot at state without doubles, but Century’s Conner Michela barely squeaked by Tyson Barden at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.

Ressler picked up his first doubles victory earlier in the day in Minot’s 4-1 quarterfinal round victory over Jamestown. This time, Ressler teamed up with Henrik Evanoff at No. 1 doubles and defeated Kale Backen and Rajen Bansal, 6-1, 6-1. The Magicians swept doubles, with Calvin Olson and Owen Sundahl besting Haden Smith and Josh Sagaser, 6-7 (5), 6-0, 10-8, in the other doubles match.

Ressler was 2-0 on the day in doubles play and improved to 9-0 in West Region competition this season.

Moore and Thompson won their singles matches in straight sets.

The Magicians dropped into a state qualifier after falling to second-seeded Mandan, 3-2, in the semifinal round. Minot entered the doubles round leading 2-1 after victories from Oliver Thompson and Ressler at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. But the Braves swept doubles, with Matt Christen and DeKlan Wollschlager topping Evanoff and Sundahl, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2, and Donaven Birdine and Ben Sayler knocking off Barden and Olson, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to the title match.

Mandan went on to successfully defend its West Region crown, defeating regular-season champion Bismarck Legacy, 3-2, in the title match. As a result, the Braves will be the No. 1 seed at the state tournament, while the Sabers will serve as the No. 2 seed.

Jamestown earned the final spot at state out of the region, knocking out Minot North, 3-2, in a state-qualifier. The Sentinels advanced to the region semifinals for the first time after upsetting Bismarck Century in the quarterfinal, 3-2.

The state dual tournament begins on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. in Grand Forks with the quarterfinal round. Minot High will play Grand Forks Central – the No. 2 seed out of the East Region. Other quarterfinal matches include Mandan and Fargo North, West Fargo Sheyenne and Jamestown, and Bismarck Legacy and Grand Forks Red River. West Fargo Sheyenne is the defending state champion. The West Region has not won a boys tennis state title since Bismarck St. Mary’s in 1993.

Boys Soccer: Minot High topples Bismarck High, secures spot at state tournament

The Minot High boys soccer team scored three unanswered goals and held on late to secure a spot at the state tournament following a 3-2 victory over Bismarck High on Thursday, Oct. 2, at Duane Carlson Stadium.

The Demons (5-7-2 overall, 5-7-2 West Region) threatened to spoil their celebration early, as Camren Haase scored in the 20th minute off an assist from Daniel Matthews to put Bismarck out in front.

Minot High (8-3-2, 8-3-2) responded in the 28th minute when Carson Fiske netted the equalizer. Grayson Steele would put the Magicians in front three minutes after halftime and Caleb Carr would net the eventual game-winner in the 51st minute with Nolan Schmidt picking up the assist.

Matthews cut Minot High’s lead in half with six minutes remaining in the match, but the Demons couldn’t find the equalizer in the final moments.

Minot High goalkeeper Ian Stewart and Bismarck High’s Drew Haberlock each finished with four saves.

The Magicians join Bismarck Legacy in the state tournament field. Minot High currently sits in second place with 26 points with three matches remaining, giving them the opportunity to finish with as many as 35 points. Bismarck High and Williston currently sit tied in fifth with 17 points, but both only have two games remaining on their schedules. Neither would be able to catch the Magicians in the standings with their maximum number of points they can finish with topping out at 23.

The state tournament is still two weeks away. Up next for the Magicians is a road match against Jamestown on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m.

Prep Volleyball: Majettes sweep Mandan; Sentinels fall to Legacy

Minot High returned to its winning ways on Thursday, Oct. 2, sweeping Mandan, 25-23, 25-15, 25-20 , to complete the season sweep of the Braves.

Everette Deschamp led the offense with 14 kills. Kynsli Gillmore and Brooke Bedell also eclipsed double-digit kills with 11 and 10, respectively. Deschamp also added 1.5 blocks, 11 digs and an ace for the Majettes (10-6 overall, 8-2 West Region).

Camdyn Varty had a match-high 19 digs and four aces, while Mackenzie Dufner dished out 36 assists.

Mandan’s Jersey Hammes finished with 10 kills.

Bismarck Legacy completed its season sweep of Minot North, claiming a four-set victory over the Sentinels, 25-18, 26-24, 22-25, 25-20.

The Sentinels (7-9, 3-7) managed to bounce back after dropping an extended second set to claim the third set and avoid the sweep, but the Sabers (7-9, 6-4) closed it out in four and avoided going to a fifth-set tiebreaker.

Aven Kelly led the Sentinels with 15 kills and McKinnley Kragh and Elli Laskowski added 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Kelly provided a match-high four blocks. Brynn Francis had 41 assists, 13 digs and a pair of aces. Kate Weishaar and Kailyn Mckechnie also had two aces.

Brooklyn Pudwill finished with a match-high 17 kills to lead the Sabers offense. Finley Fettig added 13 kills. Bently Solem had 42 assists.

Minot High travels to Bismarck Legacy on Tuesday, Oct. 7, for a 7 p.m. match. Minot North is off until Tuesday, Oct. 14, when they return to host Bismarck High at 7 p.m.