RAPID CITY – Aberdeen Central had a tough first round in the singles portion of the Rapid City Invitational on Friday, but bounced back for a strong finish.

The Golden Eagles managed just one victory in their six opening round matches, but then lost just a couple of times after that.

Central’s lone win in the first round came at flight five singles where Preston Kreber rallied for a 10-6 victory.

“A really good win for Preston,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz. “He got down 5-2 and then really played well.”

Kurtz said the first-year varsity member played more aggressive than usual to help fuel the win.

“He was playing confident. He was swinging through,” Kurtz said. “A lot of times he has a tendency to kind of be hesitant and stop his follow through, and he was swinging through and played pretty aggressive.”

Unfortunately, Kreber injured his shoulder in his semifinal match and was unable to compete in the third place match.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Hofer at first flight, Sekou Gogue at third flight, Jack Riggs at fourth flight, and Hunter Miller at sixth flight all won three matches in a row to finish fifth, and AJ Prehn lost a tight one in his fifth-place match.

Kurtz was pleased with the way his players bounced back after suffering those first-round setbacks.

“That was something we talked about. It’s always one of our goals at ESD and state to always win after you lose a match, to always bounce back. Our guys did a really good job of that,” Kurtz said. “For the most part we got a lot of consolation championships, and a fourth and a sixth in there with a bunch of fifths, so a really good job after we lost in the first round.”

Central will compete in the doubles portion of the tourney when action resumes today.

Flight One

MITCHELL HOFER: lost to Eli Woidyla, Brandon Valley, 10-4; def. Rudy Isburg, Spearfish, 8-4; def. Anson Griffen, Rapid City Central, 8-3; def. Zane Hutton, Rapid City Stevens, 8-1. FIFTH PLACE.

Flight Two

AJ PREHN: lost to Jager Juracek, Mitchell, 10-4; def. Dhruv Goyal, St. Thomas More, 8-2; def. Hugh Knickreh, Rapid City Central, 8-0; lost to Palmer Johnson, Aberdeen Roncalli, 8-6. SIXTH PLACE.

Flight Three

SEKOU GOGUE: lost to Dayler Segrist, Rapid City Stevens, 10-5; def. Tristan Ducheneaux, Rapid City Central, 8-1; def. Leo Smid, Spearfish, 8-1; def. Gannon May, Aberdeen Roncalli, 8-0. FIFTH PLACE.

Flight Four

JACK RIGGS: lost to Ben Gromer, Brandon Valley, 10-6; def. Sunny Goyal, Rapid City Stevens, 8-3; def. Noah McGarth, Rapid City Central, 8-0; def. Sawyer Henrich, Aberdeen Roncalli, 8-4. FIFTH PLACE.

Flight Five

PRESTON KREBER: def. Braden Nelson, Rapid City Stevens, 10-6; lost to Noah Geyer, Rapid City Christian, 6-1, default; Sam Casper lost to Josh Mueller, Rapid City Stevens, 8-3. FOURTH PLACE.

Flight Six

HUNTER MILLER: lost to Gavin Stone, Brandon Valley, 10-3; def. Jace Denholm, St. Thomas More, 8-1; def. Ryan Cota, Spearfish, 8-6; def. Jacob Bellefeuille, Aberdeen Roncalli, 8-6 (7-4). FIFTH PLACE.