Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

If there was a perfectly wrong time for the Forest Lake tennis team to play No. 4-ranked Mounds View, it was last week.

The Rangers went on the road during homecoming week and ended Sept. 25 with a 5-2 loss to the Mustangs. And even with the disclaimers of being the visiting school during a tiring week of activities, maybe it really didn’t matter when these two programs squared off.

“It was apparent that we weren’t quite as good as Mounds View,” head coach Greg Patchin shared. “(But) I was real proud of our effort.”

While the Mustangs may have been better, Patchin also sounds like a play here and a break there could have changed the outcome. Either that or at least made it closer.

Charise Kendrick played very well at No. 4 singles, and Patchin thought that if she had taken the second set, the match would have likely ended in her favor.

“We were competitive at all the doubles spots, but only got two of them” Patchin added. “We lost two close matches and against state ranked teams, they need to be ours.”

Before wrapping up the regular season against Blaine on Monday, Forest Lake finished its conference schedule on Sept. 27 with a home match versus Park.

This one was no contest.

“Our final conference match with Park was what I expected — quick and easy,” Patchin said.

The only surprise was a pleasant one as Quinne Patchin upset two-time All Suburban East Conference player, Azieb Nigatu at No. 1 singles in three sets.

MONDAY'S WIN

The Rangers prepared for sections with a 7-0 blanking of Blaine on Oct. 1.

Lauren Gravelle made a great comeback at No. 2 singles, and coach Patchin feels the pairing of Kathy Crudo and Brianna Odegaard is peaking at just the right time.

“It was a nice win to end the season, but I think all the girls know that there is work to be done if we are going to go deep into the sections,” he said.

“We have had a very good regular season at 14-2, but I don’t think the girls are satisfied. A week of good practice and who knows?”

Rangers 2, Mustangs 5
SINGLES: Q. Patchin lost to Erin Gudul 2-6, 2-6; Lauren Gravelle lost to Christine Muller 1-6, 0-6; Audrey Hanmer lost to Melanie Yates 2-6, 3-6; Kendrick lost to Tracy Lay 4-6, 4-6; DOUBLES: Kathy Crudo/Brianna Odegaard d. Kelly Humphrey/Jodi Van De Riet 6-0, 6-2; Blair Patchin/Sammy Holien lost to KrisThompson/Laurel Krebsbach 4-6, 4-6; Kristie Miller/Tisa Phinney d. Ellen Gutzwiller/Kelsey Rice 7-6, 6-2.

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