GRAND FORKS – Mandan High School's Jared Christen made history for his school on Saturday, claiming Mandan's first-ever state singles championship at the North Dakota state boys tennis tournament held at Grand Forks Choice Health & Fitness. Christen's victory is an achievement expected to be celebrated on the board displaying names of local state champions at the Mandan Tennis Center.
Designated as West No. 1, Christen navigated a dominant path through the singles bracket. He began his tournament run by defeating East No. 8 Tyler Duffy of West Fargo Sheyenne with a decisive 6-0, 6-0 score in the first round. In the quarterfinals, Christen continued his strong performance, besting West No. 5 Braxton Spooner from Legacy High School 6-1, 6-1. The semifinals saw Christen overcome East No. 2 Thor Cameron of Fargo Davies 6-4, 6-2, securing his spot in the championship match. In the state championship, Christen defeated East No. 1 Arnav Panwalkar of Fargo North in a close contest, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Other local athletes also had notable performances in the singles tournament. Legacy High School's Connor Svihovec, seeded West No. 2, advanced to the semifinals before falling to Fargo North's Panwalkar 6-1, 6-3. Svihovec went on to secure a third-place finish by defeating East No. 2 Thor Cameron of Fargo Davies 6-2, 6-4. Bismarck High School's Reed Romsaas, West No. 3, reached the quarterfinals, where he lost to Thor Cameron 6-4, 6-3. Romsaas then fought through the consolation bracket, winning his consolation quarterfinal against East No. 5 Asher Arndt of Fargo Davies 6-1, 6-2, and his consolation semifinal against West No. 5 Braxton Spooner of Legacy 7-5, 6-3. He ultimately clinched fifth place by defeating East No. 3 Watson Nagel of Wahpeton 6-2, 4-6, 10-6.
Other Mandan singles players participating included West No. 6 Ben Sayler, who won his consolation first-round match against East No. 7 Jack Johnson of Grand Forks Red River 6-3, 6-1, before losing in the consolation quarterfinals. West No. 8 Brandon Johnson of Mandan lost in both the first round and consolation first round.
In the doubles tournament, Century High School's duo of Ryan Mullally and Connor Michela, seeded West No. 2, made a strong run to the state championship match. They defeated East No. 7 Jonah Reindl and Mark Wanner of Fargo Shanley 6-3, 6-1 in the first round. In the quarterfinals, Mullally and Michela overcame East No. 3 Quin Kruger and Cole Haugen of Valley City 6-4, 6-3. They advanced to the championship by defeating East No. 1 Gabe Schauer and Max Mecham of Grand Forks Red River 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals. In the state doubles championship match, Mullally and Michela were defeated by West No. 1 Nolan Moore and Connor Ressler of Minot 6-2, 6-3.
Mandan's doubles team of Matthew Christen and Lucas DeRosier, West No. 4, won their first-round match 6-4, 7-5 against East No. 5 Kyler Bydal and Max McDonald of Grand Forks Red River. They lost in the quarterfinals and later in the consolation semifinals to East No. 3 Kruger and Haugen of Valley City 6-0, 6-2. Bismarck High School's Seth Peterson and Quinn Kleser, West No. 7, won their consolation first-round match before falling in the consolation quarterfinals. Mandan's Eli Kleinknecht and Donaven Birdine, West No. 6, and Century's Teddy Andrist and Ryker Dunlop, West No. 8, also participated in the doubles tournament.
Beyond his singles championship, Jared Christen of Mandan was also recognized as the Senior Athlete of the Year. This state tournament success follows a strong season for Mandan High School, which secured three consecutive West Region tournament titles and their second WDA title of the year. The team also earned a share of the West Region regular season title.
