By John RittenhouseA Luverne eighth-grader captured a league title during the Southwest Conference Tennis Tournament in Redwood Falls Thursday.Derek Boeve, a first-year member of the program, went 2-0 at No. 4 singles to secure Luverne’s lone SWC championship during the event.Boeve opened the tournament by besting Redwood Valley’s Josh Okins by 6-1 and 6-2 scores in the semifinals. Boeve then won a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 match against Pipestone’s Jamie Gustavson to claim the title."I’m really proud of Derek Boeve," said Cardinal coach Greg Antoine. "This is his first year out for tennis, and he played really hard and really well."Three LHS singles players and a pair of doubles teams placed second at the tournament.Dusty Antoine posted a 7-5, 6-1 win over RWV’s Drew Tribble before losing the championship match at No. 1 singles to Pipestone’s Florian Brokamp by 6-1 and 6-0 tallies.Patrick Bennett topped RWV’s Mike Alexander by 6-2 and 6-1 scores during his first match at No. 2 singles. Pipestone’s Mike Janssen handed Bennett a pair of 6-4 setbacks in the championship match.Cardinal Kyle Fletcher nailed down 6-2 and 6-4 wins over RWV’s Devan Blaine in the first round at No. 4 singles. Pipestone’s Damion Weets posted 6-1 and 6-0 wins over Fletcher in the title tilt.John Kreuch and Chris Vickery earned a berth in the championship match at No. 2 doubles by beating RWV’s Justin Thiel and Dan Stephens in a three-set match that featured 5-7, 6-4 and 6-3 scores. Pipestone’s Paul Williamson and Casey Carmody topped the Luverne team 6-3 and 6-4 in the title match.Cardinals David Nelson and Weston Sawtelle beat RWV’s Dave Sandvold and Jordan Maserek 2-6, 7-6 (7-3 in the tie-breaker) and 6-4 in the first round at No. 3 doubles. Pipestone’s Aaron Prunty and Dave Janssen defeated the Luverne team by 7-5 and 6-1 scores in the finale.Luverne’s Trevor Maine and Steven Althoff lost 6-2 and 6-1 sets to RWV’s Reed Larson and Laron Schottenbauer in the first round at No. 1 doubles. Maine and Althoff bounced back to beat Worthington’s Cody Neyens and Jordan Williemssen by 6-4 and 5-3 tallies to place third.
