Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Heading into this season it looks like the girls tennis team has the talent to make people sit up and take notice. One of the Twin Cities newspapers listed them as a team to watch out for, and at this moment, the Rangers have lived up to the billing.

The girls opened their schedule on Friday, Aug. 18, with the Herzog Invitational in Stillwater, and came away with impressive results.

ìWe took second place in a very prestigious tournament,î head coach Greg Patchin said. ìSo that was awesome.î

Senior captain Paige Patchin made it to the finals as did the No. 1 doubles team comprised of Alexa Nelson and Madalyn Raasch.

The best performance by a duo came from Blair Patchin and Sami Holien as the No. 3 doubles team. They started the year off with a finals victory and looked to make it a winning streak when the team traveled to Centennial for Mondayís match.

ëTIE FOR FIRST'

When Monday morning rolled around, the girls played like it was Monday morning. They started slow and got behind early, which had coach Patchin telling his No. 2 doubles team of Casie Carpenter and Kathy Crudo, ìThereís no excuse for that.î

But as the day warmed up, so did the Forest Lake squad and they ended up in a tie for first place with host Centennial. It was only after working down to the second tie-breaker that Forest Lake was slotted officially in second place.

ìWe proved we could play with Centennial, who I think the last time I looked was ranked No. 11,î coach Patchin said.

Paige Patchin won the No. 1 singles, and she had company as a first place finisher with Audrey Hanmer in the No. 4 singles, Brianna Odegaard and Hilary Hazzard as No. 4 doubles, and the undefeated No. 3 team of Blair Patchin and Holien.

In a solid showing of depth and ability, all of the remaining individuals and partners came in second place: Quinne Patchin as No. 2 singles, Lauren Gravelle as No. 3 singles, No. 1 doubles of Nelson and Raasch, and No. 2 doubles of Carpenter and Crudo.

ìPretty good stuff,î coach Patchin said.

The girls team is at Chisago Lakes on Thursday, and then entertains Coon Rapids this Monday afternoon.

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