No upset, but a step up

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 13, 2002

All coach Sean Gillam needed was to watch the No.

Saturday, April 13, 2002

All coach Sean Gillam needed was to watch the No. 1 singles match and listen to the Owatonna fans to gauge the progress of the Albert Lea High School boys’ tennis team.

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&uot;I heard Owatonna people saying, ‘Wow. I didn’t think they had anybody that good,’&uot; said Gillam.

The Tigers didn’t win but they definitely showed improvement while falling 7-0 to the powerful Huskies on the Southwest Middle School courts Friday.

&uot;In talking with (assistant coach Mike) Miller, he didn’t remember winning more than six games against Owatonna last year,&uot; said Gillam. &uot;We won 20 today. That’s a big step up.&uot;

The closest match was No. 3 doubles, where Greg Peterson and Dustin Trail lost 7-5, 6-0. John Mattson and Matt Wulff were at No. 1 doubles, Kurtis Bohrnstedt and Steve Thorn at No. 2.

Matt Entorf played well despite falling at No. 1 singles, according to Gillam. Paul Marlin moved into the No. 2 singles slot for the injured Adam Luebke. Conner Keyeski was at No. 3, Andrew Dyrdal No. 4.

The Tigers, 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Nine, play at Mankato West Tuesday and host Rochester John Marshall Thursday.