Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

One week after the Forest Lake tennis team traveled south and knocked off a solid Hastings squad, 4-3, the Rangers had another tough assignment, when Cretin-Derham Hall paid the girls a visit on Thursday, Sept. 6.

While it never affects the actual outcome, it’s always interesting to compare how common opponents fared against each other; two days before Cretin came to town, they defeated Hastings by the score of 5-2. Last Thursday’s match between two programs who expect to reside in the upper crust of the Suburban East Conference now took on added importance.

Behind the Rangers suddenly trademark depth and dominant doubles teams, Forest Lake sent Cretin-Derham Hall away with a 5-2 loss. With the victory, head coach Greg Patchin has a team that is 5-0 overall, and 2-0 in the SEC.

“Our doubles once again were victorious, and undefeated Audrey Hanmer just keeps rolling,” he said in an e-mail.

“We keep losing close matches at the top of the singles lineup, but Kristie Miller is really playing well at No. 4 singles.”

To support and clarify Patchin’s comments, all three doubles teams won, as did Hanmer at No. 3 singles and Miller at No. 4. Those two wins at singles cancelled out Quinne Patchin and Lauren Gravelle’s losses at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.

A strong wind disrupted shots on all seven courts, but little else got in the way of the Forest Lake doubles teams.

The No. 1 pairing of Charise Kendrick and Brianna Odegaard came up with big shot after big shot and crushed Michelle Johnson and Maddy Eden, 6-0, 6-1.

“They’re like a machine,” said Dan Forsythe, who was filling in for an out-of-town coach Patchin.

In similar style, Kathy Crudo and Tisa Phinney had little trouble taking care of Clare Johnson and Katie Cullen at No. 3 doubles, 6-0, 6-2.

And not that it matters, of course, but perennial conference champ Mounds View recently lost to Stillwater.

“So we have a chance to be near the top if we play well,” coach Patchin said.

He’ll find out soon enough as the girls went to Roseville on Tuesday, and then entertain those Stillwater Ponies on Thursday, Sept. 13.

Rangers 5, Cretin 2

SINGLES: Quinne Patchin lost to Molly Geske 6-2, 3-6, 2-6; Lauren Gravelle lost to Jenny Hartjes 3-6, 3-6; Audrey Hanmer d. Moira Caulfield 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; Kristie Miller d. Shannon Hynes 6-4, 6-2.

DOUBLES: Charise Kendrick/Brianna Odegaard d. Michelle Johnson/Maddy Eden 6-0, 6-1; Blair Patchin/Sammy Holien d. Mary Mallinger/Kate Nicholson 6-4, 6-4; Kathy Crudo/Tisa Phinney d. Clare Johnson/Katie Cullen 6-0, 6-2. Exhibition: Colleen Peterson won 6-2, 7-6.

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