By John Molene

Girls’ tennis opens with near-perfect win

Park’s girls opened the 2022 tennis season with a near-perfect 7-0 win over St. Paul Johnson Thursday, then dropped a 6-1 decision to visiting South St. Paul on Monday.

Park dropped only one game out of 49 played against Johnson.

The Wolfpack swept the season opener, winning at No. singles with Aurie Morris (8-0), No. 2 Grace Townsend (8-0), No. 3 Pasia Pitkanen (8-0) and No. 4 Camilla Brooks (default).

Park’s No. 1 doubles team Finley Leick and Morgan Leick won 8-1. The No. 2 doubles team Noelle Chapek and Becky Etten won 8-0 and Madi Brinkman and Liv Evans won 8-0 at No. 3 doubles.

The tables were turned Monday as Park’s Evans and Brinkman won 2-6, 6-2, (10-8) at No. 3 doubles for the Wolfpack’s only victory of the match.

“We are off to a great start,” said Park head coach Tony Townsend. “We are trying to improve every match by focusing on the process of doing the little things right. These are the three team goals that we have for the week: 1. Focus on what you can control on the tennis court.

2. Overcome adversity by staying in the present point and not dwelling on previous mistakes.

3. Maximum effort on every point.”

Park hosts East Ridge Thursday starting at 3:30 p.m.

Swimmers open with relays Park’s 200-yard butterfly relay team led the way as the Wolfpack got the season under way in the annual Suburban East Conference relays Thursday at East Ridge High School. The Wolfpack foursome of Amber Norgaard, Alayna Faletti, Zoe Pfeiffer and Afton LeMay finished third in a time of 2:02.19 in the race.

The Wolfpack team of LeMay, Faletti, Lilianna Morris and Arachi O’Brien finished fifth in the 400-yard medley relay 4×100 IM in 4:557.96. Park’s O’Brien, Morris, Faletti and Norgaard were fifth in the 200-yard backstroke relay in 2:10.00.

Park was seventh in the 400-yard medley relay (4:54.66), sixth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (2:01.94), eighth in the 800-yard freestyle relay (10:01.89), sixth in the 200-yard breaststroke relay (2:41.68) and ninth in the 400-yard freestyle relay (4:44.97).

Park hosts Irondale at Cottage Grove Middle School Thursday, starting at 6 p.m.

Boys’ soccer opens with tie Host Park opened the 2022 season in much the same manner as the 2021 season, with a tie.

The Wolfpack tied seven of 16 games last season.

On Thursday, Park battled visiting Bloomington Jefferson to a 1-1 tie.

Park scored first on a goal by Killian Krech, with assists by Ayub Mohamed and Terry Espinosa-Gariby.

Jefferson then gained the equalizer in the second period.

Cole West started in goal for the Wolfpack.

Park’s next game is at home against Eagan Saturday, Sept. 3, at 3 p.m.

Girls’ soccer goes 0-1-1

Park played host Kasson- Mantorville to a 1-all tie Saturday, moving its season record to 0-1-1.

Visiting Bloomington Jefferson took a 1-0 win from host Park in a girls’ soccer opener Thursday for both teams.

Park hosts Highland Park Thursday in a match starting at 5 p.m.