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 certainly headlined the action, Kurtz noted the Golden Eagles had several highlights throughout the lineup.

Sekou Gogue earned an upset win in the first round, up-ending third-seeded Gibsen Eszlinger of Brandon Valley 10-7.

“That was a big upset win against a kid who handled him pretty easy earlier in the year,” Kurtz said.

Gogue was unable to pull off two straight upsets, but rallied to battle Yankton’s Chris Rockne in the third place match before falling 8-6.

Preston Kreber dropped his opening-round match at flight five, but rebounded for a pair of wins to finish in fifth place.

“He’s playing really well right now,” Kurtz said. “First out in Rapid, then Brookings, and had a great day today.”

Jack Riggs also earned a nod of approval from Kurtz despite an 0-2 record on the day. Riggs, the fifth-seed at No. 4, went to a tiebreak in his opening-round match against fifth-seeded Ben Gromer of Brandon Valley before falling at the end.

“That match took everything out of both of those guys,” Kurtz said, noting that Riggs had to take the court again almost immediately after that hour-and-a-half opener, while Gromer battled cramps in his second-round matchup.

Those efforts helped the Golden Eagles finish with 67 points after singles play, good for sixth place. Central will regroup for doubles action today, beginning with three straight four vs. five seed matchups.

“Those are all kind of coin tosses,” Kurtz said.” We got one of them (Tuesday, out of three), and we’ve got three more tomorrow.”

Today’s action begins at 8 a.m.

Team Points: Harrisburg 199, Brandon Valley 170, Yankton 134, Mitchell 92.5 Watertown 89.5, Aberdeen Central 67, Huron 19, Pierre 3, Brookings 0.

SINGLES

First Flight

MITCHELL HOFER: def. Curtis Sneden, Watertown, 10-7; def. Alex Rallis, Harrisburg, 10-7; lost to Eli Woidlya, Brandon Valley, 10-9 (7-3). SECOND PLACE,

Second Flight

AJ PREHN: lost to Harrison Krajewski, Yankton, 10-6; lost to Jager Juracek, Mitchell, 8-5.

Third Flight

SEKOU GOGUE: def. Gibsen Eszlinger, Brandon Valley, 10-7; lost to Even Meester, Watertown, 10-2; lost Chris Rockne, Yankton, 8-6. FOURTH PLACE.

Fourth Flight

JACK RIGGS: lost to Ben Gromer, Brandon Valley, 10-9 (9-7); lost to Ethan Marsh, Yankton, 8-6.

Fifth Flight

PRESTON KREBER: lost to Jack Pedersen, Yankton, 10-6; def. Xavier St. Pierre, Brookings, 8-6; def. Tyler Dingsor, Watertown, 8-7 (7-5). FIFTH PLACE.

Sixth FlightHUNTER MILLER: lost to Aidan Rockvam, Harrisburg, 10-4; lost to Matthew Thin, Huron, 8-2.