SIOUX FALLS – The competition doesn’t get much more challenging than what Aberdeen Central faced on Tuesday.

The Golden Eagles fell to defending State AA champion Harrisburg 8-1, and then fell to defending State A champion Sioux Falls Christian 9-0.

“Probably two of the top four teams in the state, maybe the top two,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz, “so it was difficult.”

While the Golden Eagles were underdogs in both duals, Kurtz was just looking for his players to come out and compete.

“We went into it just wanting to compete, no matter what the score was. … I thought that we did a much better job of that the second match,” Kurtz said. “The first match I thought we were kind of overwhelmed right away. It took us quite a bit to get used to the pace and the power.”

Central got off to a rough start on the day, not winning a game during the doubles competition against Harrisburg.

“You start with three doubles matches and get beat 10-0 every time, it kind of took some confidence out of our guys,” Kurtz said.

The Golden Eagles got better as the day wore on.

“I thought we did a much better job of just competing, knowing we’re playing the defending state champs, knowing you’re playing one of the top people in your flight, but just competing every point no matter what,” Kurtz said. “We did a much better job of that the second match.”

Central’s lone win on the day came from Aric Tennant who scored a 10-7 win at second flight singles against Harrisburg.

Kurtz noted the play of Grayson Rehder at flight six singles.

“It was a good day for Grayson Rehder. He got multiple games in both of his matches,” Kurtz said. “He’s just getting better and better. He kind of started late … but he’s put in a lot of time. Just getting more confident and more kind of used to the pace.”

The match against Christian pitted Central against one of its former players, Mitchell Hofer at top flight singles and doubles.

Kurtz noted that Central’s double tandem of Dawson Pederson and Gannon Pederson had some chances early against SFC, but came up empty.

“I think we had four deuce points on our serve,” Kurtz said, “but it’s tough when maybe the best player in the state gets to take that deuce point every time.”

Central takes on Sioux Falls Lincoln and Watertown back in Sioux Falls on Thursday.

Harrisburg 8, Aberdeen Central 1

Singles

Alex Rallis, H, def. Dawson Pederson, 10-0.

Aric Tennant, H, def. Carson Mettler, 10-7.

Robert Rallis, H, def. Gannon Pederson, 10-0.

Cooper Rott, H, def. Wyatt Kiesz, 10-0.

Ozil Sharma, H, def. Alex Tarver, 10-0.

Howard Rost, H, def. Grayson Rehder, 10-4.

Doubles

A. Rallis-Jackson Handcock, H, def. D. Pederson-G. Pederson, 10-0.

R. Rallis-Rott, H, def. Tennant-Kiesz, 10-0.

Sharma-Rost, H, def. Tarver-Rehder, 10-0.

Sioux Falls Christian 9, Aberdeen Central 0

Singles

Mitchell Hofer, SFC, def. Dawson Pederson, 10-2.

Elijah Lindgren, SFC, def. Aric Tennant, 10-0.

Rex Lefever, SFC, def. Gannon Pederson, 10-1.

Logan Boyle, SFC, def. Wyatt Kiesz, 10-0.

Jack Squier, SFC, def. Alex Tarver, 10-4.

Jacob Woodward, SFC, def. Grayson Rehder, 10-4.

Doubles

Hofer-Squier, SFC, def. D. Pederson-G. Pederson, 10-1.

Lefever-Boyle, SFC, def. Tennant-Kiesz, 10-0.

Lindgren-Woodward, SFC, def. Tarver-Rehder, 10-2.