The Hastings boys tennis team faced a difficult two-match stretch last week, falling to St. Thomas Academy on April 14 and Two Rivers on April 16 before a scheduled April 17 matchup with Burnsville was postponed and has not yet been rescheduled. The Raiders picked up two singles victories against Two Rivers and continued to gain experience across the lineup.
Hastings opened the week April 14 against St. Thomas Academy. The Cadets earned a 7-0 team win, but the Raiders competed across all flights against a strong opponent. At No. 1 singles, Micah Slapnicher faced Drew Lindstrom and fell 6-1, 6-0. Gus Whitehill Conover played at No. 2 singles against Bruce Sanborn, while Benji Price competed at No. 3 singles against Finn Ganje and Jens Kaufman played Dante Ziperstein at No. 4 singles.
In doubles play, Hunter Belford and Aidan Suarez Garcia teamed at No. 1 doubles and fell 6-2, 6-1. Zac Belford and Isaac Hamann played at No. 2 doubles and lost 6-1, 6-2. Tyler Pond and Joe Makowske competed at No. 3 doubles and dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision. The final team score was St. Thomas Academy 7, Hastings 0.
Hastings returned to action April 16 against Two Rivers and turned in a stronger showing, earning two singles wins in a 5-2 team loss. Benji Price delivered one of the highlights of the match at No. 3 singles, winning a first-set tiebreak before pulling away for a 7-6, 6-0 victory over Griffin Rebhan. Jens Kaufman followed with another point at No. 4 singles, defeating August Rueckert 7-5, 6-3.
At No. 1 singles, Slapnicher faced Corbin Challifour and fell 6-3, 6-0. Whitehill Conover played Parker Mason at No. 2 singles and lost 6-3, 6-1.
In doubles, Aidan Suarez Garcia and Hunter Belford dropped a 6-2, 6-2 match at No. 1 doubles. Zac Belford and Isaac Hamann pushed their No. 2 doubles match to three sets before falling 6-7, 6-3, 6-1. Tyler Pond and Joe Makowske also battled through three sets at No. 3 doubles before losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. The final team score was Two Rivers 5, Hastings 2.
The Raiders were scheduled to play Burnsville on April 17, but the match was postponed and has not yet been rescheduled.
Hastings will travel to Woodbury on April 22 at 4 p.m., host South St. Paul on April 23 at 3:30 p.m., travel to Simley on April 28 at 4 p.m., and host Harding on April 29 at 4 p.m. The Raiders then travel to Rosemount on May 1 at 7 p.m. and compete in a multi-team event May 2 at 10 a.m. at Cretin-Derham Hall before returning home to face Hill-Murray on May 5 at 3:30 p.m., North St. Paul on May 7 at 3:30 p.m., and Hudson on May 8 at 4 p.m.