The Hastings Raiders boys tennis team faced a busy stretch last week with three matches in as many days, starting strong with a solid home win before encountering two challenging road tests. On Monday, April 29, the Raiders defended their home courts with a decisive 5-2 victory over conference rival Simley. The week continued with a rescheduled match at Two Rivers on Tuesday, followed by a non-conference road trip to Hudson, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. While the latter two matchups didn’t go Hastings’ way, the team showed competitive grit and picked up valuable experience in tough conditions.
Home court success against Simley
The week kicked off with a confident performance at home against Simley High School. Hastings came out ahead with a 5-2 win, bolstered by strong doubles play and key singles victories.
In doubles, the Raiders swept all three matches, setting the tone early. The top duo of Malachi Beal and Aidan Suarez Garcia overcame a first-set loss to rally back with authority, winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. At No. 2 doubles, Tanner Mattila and Gus Whitehill Conover dominated their Simley opponents with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 win. The No. 3 pairing of Fischer Kauffman and Quinton Heiman also delivered, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
On the singles side, Ben Ruedy earned a hard-fought victory at the No. 2 spot, winning 6-4, 6-3. Charlie Jensen added another singles point with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 3. While top singles player Micah Slapnicher and No. 4 Eli Handrich fell to their Simley counterparts, Hastings still walked away with a solid team win and momentum heading into the next two matches.
Tough Road Loss at Two Rivers
The Raiders traveled to Mendota Heights the following day to make up a previously weather-delayed conference match against Two Rivers High School. The host team proved a tough opponent, taking the match 6-1. Hastings managed to grab one victory in doubles but struggled to find footing in singles play.
Once again, the No. 3 doubles team of Kauffman and Heiman provided a bright spot. The pair continued their unbeaten week with a 6-4, 6-1 win, showing great chemistry and consistency. Despite strong efforts, the other doubles teams fell short. Beal and Suarez Garcia dropped their No. 1 match 6-4, 6-1, while Mattila and Kauffman were defeated 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 2 spot.
In singles, Two Rivers controlled play across the board. Slapnicher, Ruedy, Jensen, and Handrich all faced stiff competition and were unable to break through in their respective matches. Though the team didn’t come away with the result they wanted, the Raiders fought hard and gained important court time in high-level conference competition.
Closing the Week in Hudson
On Wednesday, Hastings wrapped up the three-match run with a non-conference meet at Hudson High School in Wisconsin. The Raiders again showed signs of strength in doubles but dropped the overall match 5-2.
Slapnicher teamed up with Beal at No. 1 doubles for a gutsy win that went the distance, 6-2, 2-6, 10-4. At No. 3 doubles, Kauffman and Heiman capped off a perfect week together with a thrilling 6-2, 6-7, 10-8 victory, showing poise under pressure in the deciding tiebreaker.
However, Hudson dominated singles play, sweeping all four matches. Ruedy, Jensen, Handrich, and Whitehill Conover each faced strong opponents and couldn’t find a way through, with most matches decided in straight sets.
Looking Ahead
Despite the 1-2 record on the week, the Raiders had several standout performances—particularly in doubles—highlighting the depth and potential of this year’s squad. With continued improvement and growing match experience, the Hastings boys tennis team looks poised to build on these efforts as the season moves forward.