RAPID CITY – Aberdeen Central fell to one of the state’s premier tennis programs, before finishing up with a victory during the West River Invitational on Friday.

The Golden Eagles were swept by Rapid City Christian 9-0, and then grabbed a 5-4 win over St. Thomas More.

Kurtz said Christian lost its top three players from a year ago, but remains a top squad.

“They’re still really good. They hit the ball harder than any team we play. … They overwhelmed us with their pace,” Kurtz said. “A lot of our kids just haven’t seen pace and power the like that.”

Central was able to regroup to pull out the narrow win over STM. Kurtz said the match ended up coming down to first flight singles.

AJ Prehn was involved in a tight back and forth battle before recording a break, and then holding serve for an 8-6 win.

“He’s playing really well right now,” Kurtz said.

The Golden Eagles also received singles wins from Dawson Pederson, Aric Tennant, and doubles wins from Prehn and Mika Dannen, and Pederson and Tennant.

Central is scheduled to have a week break until playing at Harrisburg and Sioux Falls Christian on Tuesday, April 2. With the upcoming forecast, the Eagles might not have been able to play next week anyway.

“In tennis you don’t ever want a storm with snow or anything  like that,” Kurtz said, “but if we’re going to get one this year, it’s not a bad time for us, because we have a week off here of matches.”

Central heads into the mini break with a 2-2 mark and more questions answered following its opening week of competition.

“I think we’re further a long than I thought we were,” Kurtz said. “I think we answered quite a few questions this weekend.”

Rapid City Christian 9, Aberdeen Central 0

Singles

Jack Hancock, RCC, def. AJ Prehn, 8-3.

Henry Beckloff, RCC, def. Brock Anderson, 8-0.

Noah Geyer, RCC, def. Dawson Pederson, 8-0.

Cain Schaefers, RCC, def. Aric Tennant, 8-1.

Ethan Palmer, RCC, def. Mika Dannen, 8-0.

Hudson Selfridge, RCC, def. Gannon Pederson, 8-6.

Doubles

Hancock-Geyer, RCC, def. Prehn-Dannen, 8-3.

Beckloff-Schaefers, RCC, def. D. Pederson-Tennant, 8-0.

Palmer-Matthew Suomala, RCC, def. G. Pederson-Anderson, 8-3.

Aberdeen Central 5, St. Thomas More 4

Singles

AJ Prehn, AC, def. Michael Levine, 8-6.

Andrew Levine, STM, def. Brock Anderson, 8-1.

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Braeden Strain, 8-3.

Aric Tennant, AC, def. Carter Stamper, 8-2.

Elliot Huxford, STM, def.  Mika Dannen, 8-4.

Oliver Huxford, STM, def. Gracen Casper, 8-2.

Doubles

Prehn-Dannen, AC, def. M. Levine-A. Levine, 8-6.

D. Pederson-Tennant, AC, def. Strain-Stamper, 8-2.

E. Huxford-O. Huxford, STM, def. Gannon Pederson-Anderson, 8-1.