From softball to soccer to golf, tennis players with varied sports backgrounds found success on the courts during the first day of the C.C. Lee Tennis Tournament on Monday.

Reese Comstock is going from softball in the spring to tennis this fall. She plays both sports in the summer, competing on a traveling softball team while also getting ready for her final year of tennis at Aberdeen Central.

Comstock, who won her opening round singles match, talked about the differences between hitting a softball and hitting a tennis ball.

“Hitting a tennis ball takes a lot more control and aim,” Comstock said. “Hitting a softball, there’s a lot of technicality to it. … It’s a little easier, because you don’t care too much where you hit it, so long as it’s somewhere that you’re safe.”

While opponents in both sports are trying to make it difficult to hit the ball, Comstock said despite having fewer chances in softball, it’s actually easier to track the ball.

“You’re always standing still. You can see exactly when it’s coming, and it can only be so different,” Comstock said. “In tennis you’re moving up and down, and side to side. You have to change how you’re hitting based on that, and the other person is changing how they’re hitting it at you every shot.”

Comstock also noted that a softball swing is also the same motion, where in tennis she switches from forehands to backhands.

“In softball, you’re hitting a forehand. It’s always that side, but you’re using both hands,” Comstock said. “In tennis you’re using one, and the motion is a little different. You’re trying to move your legs a lot more. In softball, you’re using your legs, but you’re staying still for the most part.”

Comstock nearly hit a softball over the fence for a home run last season. When asked if she ever hit tennis balls over the fence surrounding the court, she responded, “They don’t always go over the fence, but they definitely hit the fence and that’s not supposed to happen.”

GEARING UP FOR SOCCER

Mika Dannen, who played tennis for Central this spring, is wrapping up his time on the court before hitting the soccer pitch to get ready for the upcoming season for the Golden Eagles.

He said footwork is a key in both tennis and soccer, as well as being in shape.

“You need to have good footwork in both sports,” Dannen said, “If you don’t, it can throw off your whole game.”

Of course mental toughness is also big, but in different ways, according to Dannen.

“Tennis is a lot more mental than soccer,” Dannen said. “If I get mad in soccer, I can just accidently push over a kid. In tennis, if I get mad, I’ll just start accidentally hitting it out.”

Dannen won his opening round match and will now face his Central teammate AJ Prehn in the semifinals today. While the two upcoming seniors are friends, that will probably cease for a brief time.

“As the soon game starts I think that’s when the friendship is probably off for the match and you’ve got to start actually trying,” Dannen said.

Dannen said a key in his first-round victory was hitting the ball with more pace.

“I learned right away that I just really needed to hit it hard back by the line with some consistency and I did that for most of the match,” Dannen said. “It seemed to work pretty well.”

Interestingly enough, Dannen broke a string over the weekend and tried using a friend’s racquet and found it to be to his liking.

“I was getting pretty consistent at it,” Dannen said of hitting with topspin and pace. “I was like I might as well try it in a match and see what happens, and it turned out pretty positive today.”

Does that mean Dannen will try purchasing that racquet from his friend?

“I’m thinking about it, that’s for sure,” Dannen said.

FROM THE COURSE TO THE COURT

Aberdeen’s Gannon May is taking a brief break from golf to play in the C.C. Lee.

The Roncalli athlete is transitioning from spring tennis to fall golf. He said it takes a few minutes to make the adjustment from golf to tennis.

“It’s a little tough. It’s kind of a similar swing,” May said. “Your using your hips a lot in both. It takes me a couple of points to get back into it.”

May said playing tennis is more challenging mentally than golf, because things can swing so quickly out on the course.

“When you’re playing golf you can have one bad hole and then you can get a hole-in-one the next hole,” May said. “(Sunday) I shot a seven on a par five and then I had an eagle on a par four. You can easily turn it around there. Tennis, it’s a little tougher to turn it around.”

While May will be playing into his final golf season for the Cavaliers this fall, there is plenty of motivation for having a successful summer of tennis as well.

“For me, where I’m going to be at for varsity, moving up a couple of spots, being a senior, I kind of have to focus in now,” May said of tennis, “and finish some points and finish some matches early if I’m going to be playing better competition.”

FIRST C.C. LEE EXPERIENCE

There are numerous out of state players in this year’s tournament field. One of those, Daphne Olson of Jamestown, N.D., is playing in the C.C. Lee for the first time.

“It’s fun to play people I don’t normally play,” Olson said.

The 15-year-old said that having a proper mindset is an important aspect of tennis.

“I think it’s pretty important,” Olson said of the mental side of the sport, “because if you’re not doing well, then you’re down on yourself and you get down on yourself, you’re going to keep not doing well.”

Olson, who played number five for her high school team last year, said there is something that she really likes about tennis.

“It’s both a team sport and an individual sport,” Olson said. “You’re the only one out on the court for singles, but you’re still kind of not alone in it.”

REFINING HIS SERVE

Aberdeen’s Aric Tennant is spending a lot of time on the court this summer. Like almost every day.

The upcoming sophomore at Central not only enjoys playing, but also gives lessons. He said a big focus this summer is to work on his serve.

“Mainly, I’ve been working on my serve a lot this summer, because my old serve wasn’t very good,” Tennant said. “I’ve just been trying to improve more and more everyday.”

While Tennant has been working on his service motion, he said there is a mental component to it as well.

“I feel like it’s mainly technique,” Tennant said, “but you have to imagine the ball going in (for it) to go in, because if you’re thinking the ball is going to go out, it’s probably going to go out.”

Tennant, who won his opening round singles match on Monday, said this is not the first time that he’s tried to refine his serve, but feels like he has found the best option.

“It’s mainly whatever feels right,” Tennant said, “because I think I’ve been through three serves and the one I’m using now just feels the best, and I feel like it works the best, too.”

The tournament resumes at 8 this morning at the courts at Northern State and will conclude this afternoon.

BOYS’ DIVISION

18 and Under Singles

Mitchell Hofer, bye; Matthew Comings def. Ezra Feickert, 6-4, 6-2; Grady Anderson, bye; Gannon May, bye; Landon Tipton, bye; Mika Dannen, bye; Alexander Comings def. Brock Anderson, 6-1, 6-3; May def. Anderson, 6-3, 6-2; Hofer def. M. Comings, 6-0, 6-1; May def. Anderson, 6-3, 6-2; Dannen def. Tipton, 6-1, 6-2; Prehn def. A. Comings, 7-5, 6-4.

18 and Under Doubles

Mitchell Hofer-AJ Prehn def. Gannon May-Ezra Feickert, 6-0, 6-2; Matthew Comings-Alexander Comings def. Brock Anderson-Mika Dannen, 6-3; 6-0.

16 and Under Singles

Jared Christen, bye; Braxton Burkett def. Zachary Comings, 6-1, 6-2; Gracin Kaste, bye; Aric Tennant, bye; Dawson Pederson, bye; Max Brosz, bye; Garnett Anderson def. Cole Haugen, 6-3, 6-1; Logan Boyle, bye; Christen def. Burkett, 6-0, 6-0; Tennant def. Kaste, 6-1, 6-3; Pederson def. Brosz, 6-1, 6-0; Boyle def. Anderson, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7).

16 and Under Doubles

Quintilian Kruger-Cole Haugen, bye; Jared Christen-Matthew Christen def. Liam Voehl-Caleb Stoks, 6-1, 6-2; Aric Tennant-Dawson Pederson def. Gracin Kaste-Zachary Comings, 6-3, 6-1; Max Brosz-Garnett Anderson def. Logan Boyle-Ryhs Nielsen, 6-1, 6-1.

14 and Under Singles

Matthew Christen, bye; Rhys Nielsen def. Caleb Stoks, 6-0, 6-0; Liam Voehl def. Christian Schuler, 6-2, 6-1; Quintilian Kruger def. Donaven Birdine, 6-1, 6-4.

GIRLS’ DIVISION

18 and Under Singles

Julia Knie, bye; Ashley Anguiano Ortega, bye; Mykaela Jorgenson, bye; Raley Haskell def. Mady Holman, 6-4, 6-2; Reese Comstock, bye; Sierra DeWitt, bye; River Haskell def. Avry Fischer, 6-0, 6-3; Avery Tennant, bye; Knie def. Anguiano Ortega, 6-1, 6-0; Jorgenson def. Raley Haskell, 1-6, 6-3, (10-5); Comstock def. DeWitt, 6-3, 6-1; Tennant def. River Haskell, 6-3, 6-0.

18 and Under Doubles

Julia Knie-Avery Tennant, bye; Raley Haskell-River Haskell def. Chloe Ladner-Olivia Geier, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4); Mady Holman-Olivia Douglas def. Ashley Anguiano Ortega-Daphne Olson, 6-2, 6-0; Mykaela Jorgenson-Jorgenson def. Fischer-Laney Gonsor, 6-2, 6-1; Knie-Tennant def. Haskell-Haskell, 6-0, 6-1; Jorgenson-Jorgenson def Holman-Douglas, 6-3, 7-5.

16 and Under Singles

Jenny Pitcher def. Chloe Ladner, 6-4, 6-2; Elizabeth Schuh def. Ravyn Skundberg, 6-0, 6 -1; Daphne Olson def. Hannah Moderow, 6-0, 6-1; Elise Roberts def. Anneliese Wells, 6-4, 6-4.

16 and Under Doubles

(Round Robin) Jenny Pitcher-Jorgenson def. Hannah Moderow-Schuh, 6-1, 6-1; Elise Roberts-Ravyn Skundberg def. Moderow-Schuh, by default; Pitcher-Jorgenson def. Roberts-Skundberg, 6-3, 6-0. First Place: Pitcher-Jorgenson. Second Place: Roberts-Skundberg.

14 and Under Singles

Sarah Knie, bye; Estelle Riggs, def. Sydney Erdmann, 6-1, 6-0; Milena Mavrin, bye; Rhapsody Lunsetter, bye; Penelope Vogel def. Ava Schuler, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 10-5; Halle Buckhouse, bye; Baileigh Dannen, bye; Mackenzie Boyle, bye; Knie def. Riggs, 6-3, 6-3; Mavrin def. Lunsetter, 6-0, 6-0; Vogel def. Buckhouse, 6-3, 6-0; Boyle def. Dannen, 6-0, 6-2.

14 and Under Doubles

Sarah Knie-Estelle Riggs def. Penelope Vogel-Halle Buckhouse, 6-1, 7-5; Mackenzie Boyle-Milena Mavrin, 6-2, 6-1.

12 and Under Singles

(Round Robin) Sydney Bohle def. Raylee Zimmer, 6-1, 6-4; Raylee Zimmer def. Khloe Kramp, 6-0; 6-0.