Minnewaska junior tennis player Tate Reichmann feels like he is still working his way into match shape after teams missed all of last year during the pandemic, but it is hard to see that based upon some impressive results early on.
Reichmann is one of the top singles players in the area who already has a state-tournament appearance under his belt as a freshman from 2019. Through three matches this spring, he is off to a 3-0 start where he has dropped just three games total at No. 1 singles.
“I’m just getting back into it,” Reichmann said. “My goal this season is to have fun and try to be as competitive near the end of the year as possible.”
Reichmann helped the Lakers move to 2-1 on the season after splitting two matches at the Alexandria Triangular on April 15. Minnewaska fell 6-1 to the Cardinals before bouncing back with a 4-3 win over Fergus Falls.
Reichmann did not drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win over the Otters’ Noah Tarczon. That was after a 6-2, 6-1 win over a good player in Alexandria’s Jacob Partington. Partington has moved into the No. 1 singles spot for Alexandria after playing doubles on the Cardinals’ 2019 state tournament team.
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“I feel like I can keep improving, but for the most part it’s gone well,” Reichmann said. “I just tried to keep the ball in play and make (Partington) mess up before I messed up.”
Reichmann has played football before moving to soccer this past fall, along with being in basketball. Tennis is his first love in sports, though. He grew up with a tennis racket in his hand from the age of about 3-years old as the son Minnewaska head coach Tara Reichmann.
Tate broke out at the varsity level during his freshman season in 2019. He entered the section tournament that year as the No. 2 seed behind Cole Gillespie of Thief River Falls. Gillespie had beaten Reichmann during the regular season, but he fell in the section semifinals that year.
“Then I knew that was my chance to win it,” Reichmann said. “I didn’t play my greatest at state. I was in ninth grade at the time and I figured that I would have another chance at it. I think (that experience) will help me a lot. I can see what that state tournament is like. Hopefully I can compete more than I did last time if I make it.”
Reichmann has tried to stay sharp with so many months off between matches after losing out on last season, but there’s only so much he could do. He hit a lot casually with friends through last summer and spent some time at Arrowwood Resort’s indoor courts in Alexandria.
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Reichmann looked confident and on top of his game as he attacked corners and kept Partington moving on April 15. He was happy to get the win but feels he still has room to grow.
“I’m a little hesitant to (be aggressive) because I haven’t hit in a long time. I’ve hit, but I haven’t played in a long time,” Reichmann said. “It will probably take me three or four more matches. Near the middle of the season is usually when I start to feel my best, and I try to keep it there.”
Reichmann says nothing will come easy in the Section 8A field this year as he tries to get back to a state tournament. Thief River Falls and Perham have some talented players, he said, and Osakis’ Isaac Maddock is a good player who will get a chance to see how he stacks up in the Silversteraks’ first season with a boys program.
“I can see all these kids, but I have a good feeling I will stand a chance against them,” Reichmann said. “I just need to keep working hard. Keep trying to move the ball around the court. If they get running, I can get them more tired and I feel like that can be my advantage.”
ALEXANDRIA 6, MINNEWASKA 1
SINGLES - No. 1 - Tate Reichmann (M) def. Jacob Partington, 6-2, 6-1; No. 2 - Gannon Lueck (A) def. Konner Hanson, 6-0, 6-1; No. 3 - Landon Schabel (A) def. Tenzin Dahl, 6-0, 6-1; No. 4 - Aaron Jost (A) def. Riley Thorfinnson, 6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES - No. 1 - Pieter Mulder/Andrew Wegner (A) def. Damon Uhde/Ethan Quelle, 6-2, 6-0; No. 2 - Dylan Nelson/Owen Gilbertson (A) def. Gannon Walsh, Logan Maanum, 6-1, 6-0; No. 3 - Tyler Jabas/Ryan Meuwissen (A) def. Connor Quelle/Aiden Maanum, 6-0, 6-1
MINNEWASKA 4, FERGUS FALLS 3
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SINGLES - No. 1 - Reichmann (M) def. Noah Tarczon, 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 - Damon Uhde (M) def. Dave Scheirer, 6-1, 7-5; No. 3 - Gannon Walsh (M) def. Connor Ackerson, 6-2, 6-2; No. 4 - Ethan Quelle (M) def. Carter Ness, 6-3, 7-5
DOUBLES - No. 1 - Maverick Kalenburg/Colton Portain (FF) def. Logan Maanum/Aiden Maanum, 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 - Charles Vaughn/Josh Kasper (FF) def. Connor Quelle/Tenzin Dahl, 6-1, 6-2; No. 3 - Luke Schroeder/Grant Ackerson (FF) def. Hunter Rood/Konner Hanson, 3-6, 6-4, (10-7)
