New Ulm takes strong home win over St. James

Staff photo by Ari Selvey
New Ulm’s Gideon Heins returns a hit during a Big South Conference tennis meet against St. James Area Monday at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM — New Ulm took home a 6-1 win over St. James Area in a Big South Conference boys tennis meet.

While New Ulm No. 1 singles Maverick Johnson lost to St. James’ Andrea Rivera, the rest of the team did not drop a set to the Saints.

“I know at that No. 1 spot, Maverick, he played St. James’ No. 1 last year,” New Ulm head coach Pete Engeldinger said. “And they were close. Same deal this year. That guy maybe has his number a bit. He’s a good player. He didn’t feel bad, he felt that he didn’t make some of the shots that he had made against St. Peter and New Prague recently. Other than that, we didn’t give up a set anywhere else.”

No. 2 singles player Charlie Weidman defeated Vince Brown 6-2, 6-3, while No. 3 singles player Gideon Heins defeated Rylan Meyer 6-0, 6-1.

“Gideon Heins at [No.] 3 singles, he played [No.] 3 doubles last year,” Engeldinger said. “He’s been working it. He’s got a really fun style that just kind of throws people a little bit. Because he’s such a nice guy, and he’s super congenial. Like this southern gentleman, then he just kind of wins easily. He’s having a blast at singles.”

Ian Schotzko also got a 6-2, 6-3 win over Xander Brown for New Ulm at 4 singles.

“He didn’t play varsity last year,” Engeldinger said of Schotzko. “He’s been winning … Joey Kotten and Dan Brownfield, Joey had a different partner last year and Dan wasn’t playing as a freshman, so he wasn’t seeing any varsity, and he’s playing [No.] 1 doubles and those guys are 5-2, their only losses were at Mankato West and they lost a tough one to Fairmont. Everything’s looking good.”

Kotten and Brownfield defeated Dylan Reid and Caleb Fast 6-2, 6-4, while the No. 2 doubles team of Aaron Black and Ethan Neet defeated Juas Ceruandes and Steefan Wegner 6-1, 6-1 and the No. 3 doubles team of Isaac Dittmer and Eli Dorschner defeated Noah Sauer and Jacob Espinosa 7-6 (5), 6-4.

“At [No.] 2 doubles, those guys are rocking it, too,” Engeldinger said. “It’s looking good, hard to complain.”

New Ulm (5-2) travels to Worthington on Thursday.