RAPID CITY – A young Aberdeen Central tennis team gained some valuable experience during a pair of duals at the West River Invitational on Thursday. The Golden Eagles rolled past Rapid City Central 8-1, before falling to Rapid City Stevens 7-2.

“I was very pleasantly surprised by how we played today,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz. “I’m kind of happy with where we are right now knowing that we’re so inexperienced. I just think we’re going to improve so much over the course of the year, more so than most years.”

The Eagles capped off a cold and windy day with a pair of victories against Stevens as Dawson Pederson and Mika Dannen each won singles matches by a 10-8 score at flights three and five, respectively, in the final two matches to come off the court.

“They just battled and competed,” Kurtz said of the duo. “That was one of the things we asked for and they just did.”

Pederson, an eighth-grader, was involved in a tight match the entire way. Leading 9-8, Pederson fought off three break points to finish off the victory. Dannen also survived a break point in his final service game to record the narrow win.

“First varsity experience for both of them today,” Kurtz said. “That’s pretty cool to see them not buckle under the pressure of a close match their first day out against a very good team.”

Kurtz also pointed out the play of AJ Prehn at number one singles. He defeated a solid foe from Rapid City Central and then overcame a rough start to hold his own against his opponent from Stevens.

“He had a good day all the way around,” Kurtz said.

Central played without Mason Ligon, who is at all-state band this weekend.

The Eagles face Rapid City Christian and St. Thomas More when play moves indoors today because of the weather. Kurtz said he had planned to try some different pairings in doubles before heading to Rapid City.

“We’ve really only had one day to work on doubles, so we’re going to try some things there and see who works together,” Kurtz said. “They all kind of really get along well. I’m confident we can kind of put anybody together and they’ll be just fine.”

Rapid City Stevens 7, Aberdeen Central 2

Singles

Dayler Segrist, RCS, def. AJ Prehn, 10-6.

Max Phares, RCS, def. Brock Anderson, 10-0.

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Vinny Robbennolt, 10-8.

Braden Nelson, RCS, def. Aric Tennant, 10-5.

Mika Dannen, AC, def.  Leo Schmid, 10-8.

Nathaniel Flynn, RCS, def. Gannon Pederson, 10-3.

Doubles

Segrist-Phares, RCS, def. Prehn-Anderson, 10-2.

Robbennolt-Nelson, RCS, def. D. Pederson-Tennant, 10-2.

Schmid-Flynn, RCS, def. Dannen-G. Pederson, 10-8.

Aberdeen Central 8, Rapid City Central 1

Singles

AJ Prehn, AC, def. Anson Griffin, 10-5.

Triston Ducheneaux, RCC, def. Brock Anderson, 11-10 (7-4).

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Hugh Knickrehm, 10-2.

Aric Tennant, AC, def. Kieran Fuhrmann, 10-2.

Mika Dannen, AC, def. Peyton Taylor, 10-4.

Gannon Pederson, AC, def. Grayson Weston, 10-1.

Doubles

Prehn-Anderson, AC, def. Griffin-Knickrehm, 10-6.

D. Pederson-Tennant, AC, def. Ducheneaux-Taylor, 11-9.

Dannen-G. Pederson, AC, def. Fuhrmann-Weston, 10-1.