Mitchell High School Tennis Team Shines at Class AA State Championships
Sioux Falls — The Mitchell High School boys tennis team wrapped up their season in spectacular fashion at the Class AA state championships, showcasing talent and determination. This year’s event took place over two days, culminating in an impressive sixth-place tie, with a total of 184 points—their best finish since 2022.
Stellar Performances at Tomar Park
All Day 2 matches occurred at the renowned Tomar Park tennis courts. The team’s standout performer, Sutton Thompson, achieved an outstanding fourth-place finish in Flight 6. Thompson fought valiantly but bowed out in the semifinals to the eventual champion, Giyun Seo of Sioux Falls Lincoln, with a score of 6-4, 6-3. He later faced off against Harrisburg’s Brayden Rausch in the third-place match, finishing with a 10-5 loss.
Flight Brilliance: Dannenbring and Adams Shine
Asher Dannenbring and Dawson Adams each claimed victory in their respective fifth-place brackets — Flight 3 and Flight 5, adding critical points to the team’s overall score. Dannenbring triumphed over Watertown’s Matthew Bertsch in the semifinals with a close 10-8 win before defeating Aberdeen Central’s Dawson Pederson 10-5 in the final.
Similarly, Adams showcased his skills against Watertown’s Dawson Hartman and Yankton’s Ethan Marsh, solidifying his fifth-place finish in Flight 5. Meanwhile, Cooper Star took home the Flight 4 consolation championship, narrowly edging out Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Champ Baumgarten in a tiebreaker, winning 10-9(5).
In the top tiers, Matthew Mauszycki reached the consolation semifinals in Flight 1, while Luke Jerke made it to the fifth-place semifinals at Flight 2.
Dynamic Doubles Action
The doubles competition also saw strong performances from Mitchell’s players. Dannenbring and Adams paired up to secure a fourth-place finish in Flight 3, narrowly losing to Yankton’s Marsh and Patrick Kralicek in the third-place match with a close score of 10-9(8). Additionally, Star and Thompson clinched the fifth-place match in Flight 2 against Aberdeen’s Pederson and Mason Ligon with a decisive 10-5 win. Mauszycki and Jerke advanced to the fifth-place semifinals in Flight 1, showcasing the team’s versatility across the board.
Championship Overview
Dominating the Class AA state boys tennis championship this year was Harrisburg, marking its first title in program history with a staggering 494.5 points. The team celebrated three singles championships and one doubles title. Key victories included Jackson Hancock (Flight 2), Robert Rallis (Flight 3), and Cooper Rott (Flight 5), while Rott and Brayden Rausch captured the Flight 3 doubles title.
Sioux Falls Lincoln came in a close second with 473 points, ending a ten-year championship streak. They celebrated Flight 1 doubles champions River McKenzie and Connor Husser, and Jacob Husser who garnered the Flight 2 doubles crown, alongside Tao—the Flight 4 singles champion.
Finishing in third place was O’Gorman, amassing 403 points with a standout performance from Will Koziara, who won the Flight 1 singles championship. The final rankings saw Yankton (267 points) and Rapid City Stevens (234 points) wrapping up the top five, while Brandon Valley tied with Mitchell for sixth, both scoring 184 points. Rounding out the top ten were Aberdeen Central (169.5), Watertown (112), and Sioux Falls Washington (90).
Conclusion
The Mitchell High School boys tennis team has proven its competitiveness and skill, wrapping up the season with enthusiasm and a solid performance at the state championships. As they celebrate their achievements and reflect on their journey, the future looks bright for this talented group of athletes.
For more information on high school tennis events, check out High School Tennis Association.
