Aberdeen Central stopped Aberdeen Roncalli 8-1 on senior day at the Holgate Courts in the final home action of the season for the Golden Eagles and fittingly seniors played a key role in nearly every one of the victories.

“We had a great day,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz. “I thought we played really well in a lot of spots.”

Kurtz noted that all of the varsity seniors played a part in the dual victory.

“It’s good to honor those guys and then for them to play so well,” Kurtz said. “Good win with (Alex) Tarver, good win with (Grayson) Rehder, obviously (Wyatt) Kiesz at two doubles, Gannon (Pederson) played great, Josiah (Grandpre) at three doubles. The seniors all chipped in and played really well.”

Kiesz wrapped up his playing career during the dual.

“It’s a lot of fun to play here,” Kiesz said. “I’m going to miss playing with my teammates and for Kurtz.”

Finishing it against the Cavaliers also added a unique dimension to the environment.

“It’s a little harder to compete, because you know them, you’re kind of friends with them,” Kiesz said, “so it’s like you’re out on a weekend, just hitting with them, but you’ve still got to stay competitive and try to win.”

Kiesz teamed up with Aric Tennant for a win at second flight doubles. Serving proved to be a key in the victory.

“We were definitely serving well,” Kiesz said. “Kurtz told us to come in with a lot of energy, so me and Aric really tried to come in with some energy and I think that really helped our serves.”

Roncalli’s lone win came at fourth flight singles where freshman Caleb Stoks scored a victory over Kiesz.

“I was very happy, definitely with my singles. My line shots were very nice,” Stoks said. “In doubles wasn’t the best, but we still put up a fight.”

Stoks is playing with a lot of confidence, which all started last week he said.

“My last one against Pierre is where I really gained my confidence,” Stoks said. “I really took him down and now here is where I felt really good about everything. My serve was on and that helped me a lot.”

Stoks would like to place at the upcoming state tournament. He talked about what it will take do to that.

“Working hard, but also staying confident with my shots, especially like when they come up to the net,” Stoks said, “I need to stay confident with hitting it away from them, making them move and that’s where I’m going to find success.”

Roncalli coach Jonah Dignan said that Stoks has improved throughout the course of the season.

“Stoks has played his best tennis this month, probably of his life,” Dingan said. “We’re starting to piece it together. He’s a smart kid. Today against Wyatt he played smart tennis. He didn’t make mistakes.”

Stoks and Liam Voehl fell at flight two doubles, but did not go quietly.

“Our two doubles played again some of their better tennis in the last month here,” Dignan said. “I thought today probably wasn’t their best showing they’ve had, but that second set they turned it on. We have to be able to get them early.”

Kurtz wasn’t surprised at Roncalli’s strength in the middle of the lineup.

“They’ve got a couple of really good young players. Stoks and Voehl are really good players,” Kurtz said. “Stoks, he just doesn’t make mistakes. He’s really consistent, can beat you in multiple ways. He can get aggressive, he can serve big and get some winners there. He played really well.”

Voehl held his own before dropping two tight sets to Tennant at second flight singles.

“Aric’s a good player. He gets to everything,” Dignan said. “We weren’t able to take advantage of it all the time.”

Dawson Pederson teamed with his brother Gannon for a win at top flight doubles and also won his singles match. The brothers are having a solid season in doubles.

“We’re being aggressive,” Dawson said. “Gannon’s got really good ground strokes from the baseline, especially with his backhand, which gets everything going and gets us some good points at the net, which is where we’re strong at.”

Dawson has moved up from third flight singles to first this spring and noted the difference in competition.

“You just got to think to bring your ‘A’ game right away, he said. “Especially after a long bus ride, it can be hard sometimes, but definitely coming out strong can really kickstart everything and get everything going.”

Roncalli’s Linus Johnson has a unique tie to the Central-Roncalli matchup. The junior attends Roncalli, but was a key member of the Central soccer team last fall.

He said there are some traits that carry over between the two sports.

“I would say footwork definitely comes back from soccer, because in soccer it’s just such a big thing and it definitely helps me on the court, and then the mental standpoint,” Johnson said. “That’s also from soccer I would say.”

He said competing in the wind is a challenge in both sports.

“Soccer in my opinion is harder when it’s windy, because then I have to run into the wind,” Johnson said, “but honestly tennis is also really annoying with the ball when the wind just takes it.”

With the season fast winding to a close, Johnson wants to keep improving in the next couple of weeks.

“My goal is just to get better. … I just need to work on serves,” he said, “and also just stay in rallies.”

Roncalli heads to Pierre for action on Friday and Saturday, before closing out the regular season by hosting a dual with Milbank on Tuesday.

Central heads to the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tournament Monday and Tuesday in Yankton.

Aberdeen Central 8, Aberdeen Roncalli 1

SINGLES

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Caleb Sibert, 6-0, 6-0.

Aric Tennant, AC, def. Liam Voehl, 7-5, 6-3.

Gannon Pederson, AC, def. Linus Johnson, 6-1, 6-0.

Caleb Stoks, AR, def. Wyatt Kiesz, 6-2, 6-1.

Alex Tarver, AC, def. Zach Coats, 6-0, 6-0.

Grayson Rehder, AC, def. Cody Niederbaumer, 6-0, 6-1.

DOUBLES

Dawson Pederson-Gannon Pederson, AC, def. Niederbaumer-Johnson, 6-1, 6-1.

Tennant-Kiesz, AC, def. Voehl-Stoks, 6-2, 6-4.

Josiah Granpdre-Rehder, AC, def. Siebert-Coats, 6-0, 6-0.