Victory roar lifts tennis player
Elk River senior Ryan Ness was struggling in his match when he heard his teammates cheer.
Elk River tennis players Steven Delain, center, and Mitch Brandell, right, whooped it up after clinching a 5-2 Class 3A title victory over Wayzata on June 6 at Baseline Tennis Center at the University of Minnesota. Photo by Marlin Levison * mlevison@start
This couldn't happen to Ryan Ness. Not with so much on the line.
The Elk River senior, considered by many to be his school's top male athlete this year -- two-time All-State soccer selection, captain of the soccer, basketball and tennis teams -- was struggling in the Class 2A tennis team championship finals.
Ness, who had not lost at No. 3 singles all season, had dropped the second set to Wayzata's Jason Lee and was trailing 2-0 in the third set.
"He picked up his play, and then I started to cramp up in the third set," Ness said. "I was getting frustrated."
Battling through his difficulty, Ness was admittedly relieved when he heard teammates explode when Josh Gearou and Josh Chuba won their matches, securing the championship for the undefeated Elks.
"That took a lot of the pressure off," said Ness, who rallied to defeat Lee 6-4 in the final set. "It was a great feeling to hear that. The cramps just went away."
Related Stories
Punnoose, McNutt families power Bloomington Jefferson tennis
- 05/14/2013, 6:18pm CDT
Quick Q&A: New Life Academy senior Kolin Kiekhoefer
- 05/10/2013, 5:14pm CDT
Minneapolis South's Sprinkel is state's No. 2 player
- 05/07/2013, 7:13pm CDT
Driven to prove top ranking
- 04/30/2013, 6:35pm CDT
Lakeville South adds another tennis first to the heap
- 04/30/2013, 6:34pm CDT
Tag(s): News Featured Star Tribune Wayzata Park Center Elk River Maple Grove Park Stillwater Area St. Anthony Village New Ulm Wayzata Elk River Maple Grove New Ulm Stillwater Area Park St. Anthony Village Park Center
