Knights, Roughriders both enter state tournament as contenders - Grand Forks Herald

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The Knights haven't lost in two years.

They will be the favorite to win Thursday's state team title at Choice Health and Fitness, but Central was reminded by its in-town rival last weekend that everything is far from certain.

The Knights were pushed to the limit in the team championship, narrowly defeating Grand Forks Red River 3-2. The result was a stark contrast from the regular-season matchup, which Central won 8-1.

"Red River really gave us a heck of a fight," Central coach Max Weisser said. "That's what we have come to expect from them. Whoever is playing the best is the one that's going to come through. You could call us the favorite, but I don't like that. I almost want our guys to have a chip on their shoulder. We've got to be ready to go.

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"We've talked all year about not taking stuff for granted. The (regular-season) score wasn't indicative of how close that was. I've been trying to get across to the guys how good they are. They definitely understand how tough Red River is."

Central opens the team portion of the state tournament at 10 a.m. against Bismarck Century at the Wynne Courts outside of Choice Health and Fitness. Red River opens at 10 a.m. indoors against Mandan.

The semifinals are set for 1 p.m. and the championship at 6 p.m.

"It will be good for us to know that it's going to be hard for us going into the weekend," Central sophomore Evan Panzer said. "But I think we can do it."

Central is trying to win back-to-back boys tennis team titles for the first time since 1975 and 1976.

Red River is trying to win its first team title since 2016.

"I don't think we want to get too far ahead of ourselves," Red River coach Josh Lunak said. "We'd love another shot at Central. Central's a tough team. We would definitely need to bring our 'A' game."

Sandberg aims for a second title

Central senior Logan Sandberg is trying to become the first Knight since Charlie Paukert in 2003 and 2004 to repeat as singles champion.

That might not be easy, though.

Last weekend in the team final, Sandberg lost a singles match for the first time in the last two high school seasons, falling 5-7, 7-6 (5), 10-5 to Red River's Espen Schneider.

"He played a smart match," Lunak said of Schneider. "He was pretty focused throughout and did a great job. He had some really good down-the-line passing shots. He did a good job of keeping the ball deep and keeping Logan at the base line. He also did a good job anticipating the ball and reading the ball from Logan's big shots."

Sandberg bounced back the next two days to win the East Region singles title.

"It was tough for him," Weisser said of Sandberg dropping a match. "He hasn't been put in those spots for a while. I thought he really responded well, especially Friday morning. He came out firing on all cylinders. It's a good thing for him knowing he can be vulnerable at times and knowing he has to stay focused from start to finish regardless of who is on the other side of the net."

Sandberg might see Schneider again in the team competition, but he won't see him in singles. Schneider opted to play doubles with Saylor Kuenzel.

Sandberg's toughest challenge could come from Shanley's Kai Pierce. Those two played a tight first set in the East Region singles final before Sandberg pulled away to win 7-6 (5), 6-1.

Is an all-GF doubles final ahead?

The East Region doubles final was an all-Grand Forks matchup.

Central's Panzer and Cole Wilber beat Red River's Schneider and Kuenzel in a down-to-the-wire final, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3).

"That was a great match last week in the EDC final," Lunak said. "That match could have gone either way. It would be great to see a rematch of that on Saturday."

The East Region individual tournament marked just the second time Panzer and Wilber played together this season.

"It's been a lot of fun," said Panzer, who won a state doubles title with his older brother, Braden, last year. "I wasn't really sure what I was going to play at the beginning of the year. Cole and I played once during the year and we really liked it."

N.D. state boys tennis

When: Team tournament on Thursday, individuals on Friday and Saturday.

Where: Choice Health and Fitness.

Team quarterfinals: Minot (No. 1 West) vs. WF Sheyenne (No. 4 East); GF Red River (No. 2 East) vs. Mandan (No. 3 West); GF Central (No. 1 East) vs. Bismarck Century (No. 4 West); Bismarck Legacy (No. 2 West) vs. Fargo South (No. 3 East).

GF Central individual qualifiers: Logan Sandberg (defending state champ, No. 1 East singles), Ryder McDonald (No. 3 East singles), Cole Wilber-Evan Panzer (No. 1 East doubles), Will Johnson-Brad Flaten (No. 6 East doubles).

GF Red River individual qualifiers: Kellen Johnson (No. 6 East singles), Espen Schneider-Saylor Kuenzel (No. 2 East doubles).

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