A year older and more experienced, the Hutchinson girls’ tennis team has found a reversal in outcomes of close matches.

Instead of falling 4-3 or 5-2, the Tigers have been able to pull out the close victories, which has led them to a 7-2 mark.

The latest win came Tuesday in a road match at sectional opponent Orono. Hutchinson lost 5-2 a year ago, but came out on the winning end of a 5-2 decision this year.

Two years ago, a boisterous New Ulm crowd aided the Eagles to nearly steal a match from Hutchinson in five games. Tuesday in the same gym, despite another loud student cheer section, it took only three games for the Tigers to take care of business.

Hutchinson won 25-14, 25-16 and 25-15 in the season opener for both teams.

With five new starters in the lineup for Hutchinson, the team still managed to control the match from start to finish.

Twenty-five years ago, Hutchinson claimed its first state football title in school history — a 36-14 win over Park Rapids for the Class A title at the Metrodome.

It was a team that finished with a perfect 13-0 record and outscored opponents 337-140.

When asked what he most remembered about the championship run, longtime coach Grady Rostberg responded with a single play from the second game of the year.

First a little history lesson.

Back in 1983, there was no playoff system. There was a 16-team state tournament with conference champions from all around the state.

Winthrop head women's golf coach Jodi Wendt, a Hutchinson native and daughter of former golf coach, Carol, is one of four former Minnesota State student-athletes that have been selected for induction into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Sept. 26.

Wendt, a former LPGA teaching professional and player on the Player West Professional Tour, has completed two years as the Winthrop women’s head coach after a two-year stint as the assistant golf coach.

If there was any doubt whether Hutchinson sophomore Audrey Kumm is the favorite to win the Class A 200 individual medley race this fall, that doubt was lifted with a pool-record swim Saturday in the Hutchinson Invitational.

Kumm’s pool-record time of 2:10.11 was six-tenths faster than her second-place time in the state meet last season. Her nearest competitor Saturday was 13 seconds behind her.

There will not be any races on Sat Aug 30th. Next points race will be Sept. 6th.

Shifters:
1st: #33 Bruce Olson / Kimball
2nd: #48 Ric Little / Montrose
3rd: #34 Ryan Schmidt / St Cloud

Rookies:
1st: #75X Michael Rouna
2nd: #13 Austin Bode / Green Isle
3rd: #46 Wyatt Borst / Cologne

CMKA Jr I:
1st: #24 Brandon Dolman / Glenwood
2nd: #27 Kate Esser / Mayer
3rd: #8C Riley Carter / Hutchinson

CMKA Jr II:
1st: #24 David DeMenge / Medina
2nd: #41 Dylan Williams / Willmar
3rd: #72 Mark Esser / Mayer

IKF Jr I:

With defending champion Fergus Falls dropping out of the Hutchinson Invitational, the door is wide open for the Tigersharks to capture the team title Saturday at Jerry Carlson Pool.

Eight teams, including region schools Litchfield and Dassel-Cokato will be in attendance. Blake, Mankato East, Mankato West, and Waconia will also be in attendance.

Last year, Fergus Falls won the title with 475 points, while the host school and Marshall tied for second with 409 points. The 2006 champion, Blake, placed fourth with 350 points.