RAPID CITY – The Aberdeen Central tennis team found itself on opposite ends of lopsided dual scores on Friday. The Golden Eagles fell to Rapid City Stevens 8-1 before rebounding to blank Rapid City Central 9-0.

The Eagles got a strong dose of one of the top teams in the state, winning just one match where Stevens played a sub at one number singles.

“They’re good. They’re loaded at every flight,” said Central Coach Trent Kurtz.

He pointed out the strong play of Ian Ahlberg at number three singles and Lincoln Wilkinson at number four singles.

“Ian and Lincoln I thought had really good days. Ian loses 3 and 3, but was competitive in both sets and Lincoln 2 and 3 and really in that second set was right there,” Kurtz said. “He was serving at 3-4 and was up 40-0 and let that game slip away. He’s a point away from being 4-4. You get those guys in deep water and they start getting nervous and tight as you stay close with them. He had chances there. He was a little frustrated letting that game get away, but it’s a learning experience and he’ll only get better from it.”

The Eagles dispatched RC Central without losing a set. Kurtz was pleased with the way his team regrouped against the Cobblers.

“Really happy with how we played there. I didn’t know what to expect from Rapid,” Kurtz said. “They’ve got a lot of seniors and a few guys that played a couple of years ago, but I thought we played really well. That was kind of the first match where we could kind of tell how we played.”

Kurtz pointed out the play of his number three doubles tandem.

“Henry Fouberg and Sekou Gogue I thought played great, and I think they’re just going to get better and better,” Kurtz said. “I’m really excited for them at three doubles. Really good athletes, good hands. I think the more they play together, the more they learn how to come in, they’re just going to get better and better. I thought they played really well.”

Central will wrap up the weekend with two more matches today against Rapid City Christian and Spearfish.

“That’s the key to this weekend, just kind of getting some match experience in. It’s going well so far,” Kurtz said. “Christian is going to be a tough one. That will be another good benchmark to see where we are.”

Rapid City Stevens 8, Aberdeen Central 1

SINGLES

Gabe Goetz, AC, def. Christian Mueller, 6-0, 6-1.

Michael Tang, RCS, def. Zach Gonsor, 6-0, 6-1.

Sam Mortimer, RCS, def. Ian Ahlberg, 6-3, 6-3.

Asa Hood, RCS, def. Lincoln Wilkinson, 6-2, 6-3.

Thomas Postma, RCS, def. Henry Fouberg, 6-0, 6-1.

Connor Cruse, RCS, def. Brett Jacobs, 6-0, 6-1.

DOUBLES

Jamison Pfingston-Tang, RCS, def. Goetz-Gonsor, 6-0, 6-1.

Mortimer-Hood, RCS, def. Ahlberg-Wilkinson, 6-2, 6-2.

Postma-Mueller, RCS, def. Fouberg-Sekou Gogue, 6-1, 6-0.

Aberdeen Central 9, Rapid City Central 0

SINGLES

Gabe Goetz, AC, def. Rhett Svarstad, 6-2, 6-2.

Zach Gonsor, AC, def. Taite Sumption, 6-1, 6-3.

Ian Ahlberg, AC, def. Carson Versteeg, 6-2, 6-1.

Lincoln Wilkinson, AC, def. Matthew Cuny, 6-0, 6-1.

Henry Fouberg, AC, def. Cole Jandreau, 6-0, 6-0.

Brett Jacobs, AC, def. Thane Neiman, 6-0, 6-3.

DOUBLES

Goetz-Gonsor, AC, def. Svarstad-Cuny, 6-1, 6-2.

Ahlberg-Wilkinson, AC, def. Sumption-Versteeg, 6-0, 6-2.

Fouberg-Sekou Gogue, AC, def. Jandreau-Carson Ritter, 6-1, 6-1.