New team state tourney kicked off in Kearney

A new state tournament invite kicked off in Kearney last month to give high school players another opportunity to play in a different format. The Team State Tournament was held Saturday Oct. 7 for Class B and Monday Oct. 9 for Class A teams. This unsanctioned invite was held the week before the State High School Boys Tennis Tournament. 

Class B had 12 teams in attendance and played 1, 2 and 3 singles and 1 and 2 doubles at various locations in Kearney. In order to win the dual, the team had to win at least three of the five matches. 

“It was fun to watch teams cheering each other on and pushing their teammate to a win,” said Jon Holtz, Elkhorn High coach and one of the organizers. “In the end the #11 seed Hastings and the # 1 seed Elkhorn North met in the finals, which came down to a 3-2 decision in favor of Elkhorn North. It was just a fun and competitive day for the guys.”

Class A teams had eight teams participating, as many teams didn’t choose to play. The format was the same, 1-3 singles and 1 and 2 doubles. Part of the tactics coaches can use is to change their lineup to win the dual. 

“The Class A coaches definitely tried to change their lineups much more than Class B,” Holtz said. “In the end the #4 seed Pius and the #2 seed Lincoln Southeast met in the finals. Lincoln Southeast prevailed with a 4-1 decision.”

Holtz said he heard a lot of positive feedback about this new tournament, and they will also offer it in the spring for the girls tennis teams. One of the reasons for creating this format is to put more emphasis on the team results rather than just one or two players.