Rochester edges Manchester behind Gottschalk, doubles teams

Next: at Peru, 5:15 p.m. today in sectional final

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

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Ayden Smith Cash Casper

PERU — The Rochester boys tennis team duplicated their earlier victory over Manchester in a Sectional 52 semifinal at Thrush Courts Wednesday, earning a chance to dethrone eight-time defending sectional champion Peru in the sectional final.

Luke Gottschalk won at No. 3 singles, and the doubles teams of Logan Fuller and Jesse Smith at No. 1 and Cash Casper and Ayden Smith at No. 2 all triumphed as the Zebras earned a 3-2 win over the Squires.

Meanwhile, Peru beat Wabash 5-0 in the other semifinal.

Rochester (5-11) will play Peru in the sectional final at 5:15 p.m. today. Peru has won eight consecutive sectional titles, and they beat Rochester 5-0 in their regular season meeting at the RHS courts Sept. 3. Peru will also be trying to knock Rochester out of the sectional for the third straight year.

Meanwhile, Rochester will be seeking its first sectional title since 1983.

“We’re excited,” Rochester boys tennis coach Kyle Reinartz said. “It’s exciting to be in the position we are, playing in a sectional final. But you also know you’re playing another tough team. Peru’s always been a top dog in the sectional, so we know what we’re going up against. We have to have the mindset regardless what they’ve done in the past or what they can do, we have to go out there and put in 110 percent effort regardless of the situation.”

Manchester finished 1-12.

Rochester also beat Manchester 3-2 in their regular season meeting at Rochester Sept. 8. The Zebras got their points from the same players in that match.

Gottschalk rolled over Adam Kerlin 6-0, 6-0.

“Just practicing with Coach,” Gottschalk said when asked how he’s improved in the past few weeks. “He’s a really good coach. Just helping work on my backhand, which has been pretty bad, but I’ve gotten it better and just working on the routine shots and just improving overall.”

Gottschalk started playing tennis this year based on basketball coach Luke Smith’s recommendation.

“I didn’t have a fall sport, and so he told me that tennis is good for basketball players because it helps improve their agility and some of their endurance for the season,” Gottschalk said. “It’s just a great sport, a great mental sport that just makes you work and honestly just gets you better for any sport you want to play.”

Reinartz is also the eighth grade boys basketball coach and a former All-TRC basketball player.

Asked in what areas of the game which Gottschalk has improved the most, Reinartz quipped “you name it.”

Casper and Ayden Smith were next off the court with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Gatsby Gawthrop and Tate Harting.

Fuller and Jesse Smith took the clinching point with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Graham Kreps-Miller and Charlie Van.

“Today, Jesse and Logan both were attacking the net,” Reinartz said. “Both were up at the net, just cramming it down their throats. They’re doing what we want – hitting putaway shots. So that was fun to watch.”

Camden Zink lost 6-2, 6-2 to Caleb Struble-Hedstrom at No. 1 singles, and Griffin Newton lost to Brendyn Mugford 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.

Reinartz said both Zink and Newton both improved from their earlier matches against Manchester.

RESULTS: ROCHESTER 3, MANCHESTER 2

Singles

Caleb Struble-Hedstrom (MAN) def. Camden Zink (RHS), 6-2, 6-2

Brendyn Mugford (MAN) def. Griffin Newton (RHS), 6-1, 6-1

Luke Gottschalk (RHS) def. Adam Kerlin (MAN), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

Logan Fuller-Jesse Smith (RHS) def. Graham Kreps-Miller-Charlie Van (MAN), 6-2, 6-3

Cash Casper-Ayden Smith (RHS) def. Gatsby Gawthrop-Tate Harting (MAN), 6-0, 6-0