WASECA — A lot of teams like to schedule a cream puff nonconference opponent to open the season.

Wednesday, April 07, 1999

WASECA — A lot of teams like to schedule a cream puff nonconference opponent to open the season.

There was no such luck for the Albert Lea High School boys’ tennis team.

The Tigers traveled for their opener Monday to Waseca, which is hoping to win the South Central Conference championship this spring, and lost 7-0.

&uot;It was our first time out with a club that does not have a lot of varsity playing experience,&uot; said ALHS coach Orrie Jirele.

The only Tiger with varsity playing time, Chad Boyer, was at No. 1 singles and he lost 6-1, 6-0.

Rikki Tanaka, an exchange student from Japan, was defeated 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.

Jon Petersen, the Tigers’ other co-captain along with Boyer, fell 6-3, 6-0 at third singles.

&uot;He played a pretty good set,&uot; said Jirele. &uot;Of our singles players, he had the best set of anyone in that first one.&uot;

Joel Brown lost at No. 4 singles, 6-1 and 6-0.

The Tigers’ No. 1 doubles team of Matt Levorson and Darrin France fell 6-0, 6-1 while Karl Bohrnstedt and Mark Jasperson were defeated 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2.

Ted Knudson and John Woodruff were defeated 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3 doubles.

&uot;They played pretty well in the second set,&uot; said Jirele.

The Albert Lea junior varsity lost 4-2. Winning for the Tigers were singles players Matt Maynard and Matt Entorf.

The Tigers open Big Nine play Thursday, facing Mankato West at Southwest Junior High School.