MITCHELL – Not even a lengthy rain delay could derail Aberdeen Central eighth-grader Mitchell Hofer.
Despite a nearly six-hour setback, Hofer took full advantage of his opportunities when he and the rest of the Golden Eagle tennis players were able to take the courts at the Eastern South Dakota Conference tournament, which began Tuesday in Mitchell.
Hofer, playing in the top flight, as he as all season, won a tight opening-round matchup, then upset top-seeded Alex Rallis of Harrisburg to earn himself a chance at winning an ESD title.
“Phenomenal day,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz. “It was unbelievable.”
But that title proved elusive, as Eli Woidyla of Yankton edged out the young Hofer in a tiebreaker. Hofer didn’t make it easy, though, coming back from a 9-6 deficit to force the tiebreaker in the first place.
“He played really mature for an eighth-grader,” Kurtz said. “He plays big points and big moments really well.”
While Hofer’s performance 
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