Oct. 19—ROCHESTER — There was not a lot of mystery about how the match would proceed Monday afternoon, with Cannon Falls senior Livia Tennessen and Red Wing junior Lorelei Hartman squaring off in the Section 1, Class 1A singles tennis championship at the Rochester Athletic Club.
These two have now faced each other four times this season, and each occasion it's been an exhausting battle. Their rallies are marathons, both showing such consistent baseline strokes.
But there was one mystery: Who would win?
Tennessen claimed the first two meetings, defending section champion Hartman the third one.
It looked as if Hartman was on her way to tying this series up and retaining her section title.
But it didn't happen. Tennessen endured for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 marathon win. And that after they'd both prevailed in stretched-out semifinals matches earlier in the day.
So were they spent when their day was done?
Yes, completely.
"I think just keeping my energy and moving (Hartman) side to side is what did it," said Tennessen, who, along with Hartman, will represent Section 1-1A in singles in next week's (Oct. 29-30) state meet at Inner City Tennis in Minneapolis.
"I just tried to get her to maybe make a mistake. But she doesn't make a lot of mistakes. It was pretty exhausting."
Exhilarating too for Tennessen, who captured her first section singles title. A year ago she played doubles and reached the state tournament.
Section 1-1A is stacked with excellence in singles. Lake City's Therese Bauer (who played doubles Monday) is ranked seventh, Tennessen is eighth and Hartman ninth.
Both Tennessen and Hartman showed off their excellence all match long Monday, with rallies that were grueling, both players pushing the other side to and fro with their returns.
While Tennessen played a long two-set match in the semifinals, it took Hartman three sets to beat Lake City's budding eighth-grade star Gemma Bauer in her semifinal, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Hartman admitted to not having a lot left in the tank as that third set with Tennessen wound down.
Tennessen, who had played doubles in the section meet the past two years, enjoyed the shift to singles. She's been playing No. 1 singles all season for the Bombers and was glad to stick with it at sections.
"It was very fun," said Tennessen, who is also a standout in basketball and golf and will play both at North Iowa Area Community College next year. "Having all of those people watching and just getting that last point and winning it, it just felt amazing. It feels great to be a section champion."
It is the best of all worlds for Lake City juniors Therese Bauer and Rylee Thieren.
During the team dual portion of their season, the good friends line up at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively.
But in the section individual tournament, they happily make the switch to doubles, teaming up with each other.
There were lots more smiles between the two before, during and after they claimed the top prize at Monday's tournament.
It was their third straight section doubles crown.
This is their happiest time, playing doubles with each other.
"I think what makes us such good partners is that off the court, we're also really good friends," Bauer said after she and Thieren teamed to beat Waseca's Ava Miller and Hannah Rugger 6-3, 6-2 in the section final. The duo breezed through the semifinals, 6-0, 6-0.
"Bringing that friendship that we have to the court works really well," Bauer said. "We just work really well together. We laugh on the court a lot. We tell jokes and just have a lot of fun with each other. And that helps us play better when we're having fun."
Thieren agreed; it is friendship that takes them over the top on the tennis court. In the last two state tournaments, it has led them to third-place finishes.
"We are both just out there having fun," said Thieren, whose overhead shot and heated serve are her best tennis attributes. Bauer is best around the baseline.
"There has never been a moment when one of us is disappointed in the other," Thieren said. "We pick each other up. In singles, you are out there on your own. In doubles, you've got someone out there to give you that support."
Note: Lake City will also be in the state team tournament, which is Oct. 27-28, also at Inner City Tennis.
SINGLES
Semifinals — Livia Tennessen (Cannon Falls) def. Any O'Rourke (United South Central) 6-0, 7-5 (7-5); Lorelei Hartman (Red Wing) def. Gemma Bauer (Lake City) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Championship: Tennessen def. Hartman 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Third place: Bauer def. O'Rourke 6-4, 6-3.
DOUBLES
Semifinals: Therese Bauer/Rylee Thieren (LC) def. Amanda Hasegawa/Karen Hasegawa 6-0, 6-0; Ava Miller/Hannah Rugger (Waseca) def. Stella Brewer/Adela Koliskova (Winona Cotter) 6-3, 6-2. Championship: Bauer/Thieren def. Miller/Rugger 6-2, 6-3. Third place: Brewer/Koliskova def. A. Hasegawa/K. Hasegawa 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.