East Ridge serves up treat of a tennis season

Suzie Heideman's oven has been working overtime.

The East Ridge boys' tennis coach has baked treats for her team after every victory. With the Raptors going 16-2 on the year and finishing third in the Class 2A state tournament, Heideman has been busy.

"She baked a lot this season," said senior Zekeria Nigatu, a team captain. "It's so good. I don't want to get into trouble, but she bakes way better than my mom does. I really hope she knows how much we appreciated the gesture. She really has a personal interest in us, our happiness and our success. She isn't just a coach going through the motions."

After gaining the No. 1 seed in Section 3, East Ridge defeated third-seeded Eastview 4-3 in the championship to earn its first trip to the state tournament. Then it knocked off top-seeded Mounds View in the quarterfinals.

Heideman, in her third year as coach of the Raptors, said she hoped the cookies, bars and cupcakes played a factor.

"It's just kind of a fun thing," she said. "I'm sure they would still be motivated. But, I like to think I had a little something to do with it."

Minus a 5-2 loss to No. 1-ranked Mounds View on May 6, East Ridge ran the table during the regular season, including winning three tournaments. The Raptors finished runner-up to the Mustangs in the Suburban East Conference. After losing in the state tournament semifinals to Minnetonka, the Raptors defeated Elk River for third place.

Without a clear-cut No. 1 player, East Ridge relied on its depth this season.

Heideman said she employed 14 different lineups and used at least four different players at No. 1 singles this year.

"That many lineups is kind of unheard of," Heideman said. "We called it our luxury problem, because anywhere we put people they were successful."

Nigatu, 18, has played varsity tennis for East Ridge since the Woodbury-based school opened in 2009. In past years he played Nos. 1 through 3 singles. This year, though, he rotated between No. 1 doubles and No. 2 doubles, along with playing No. 2 singles.

He said not having a "superstar" helped the dynamic of the team.

While tennis often is viewed as an individual sport, Heideman said this season her players embraced the team notion, which ultimately led to success on and off the court.

"They're just a great group of guys, and I'm proud to be their coach," she said. "They display great sportsmanship. That means more to me than the wins and losses. Above everything else their good people, so it's easy to be their coach and their cheerleader."

Nigatu, who will attend Wisconsin-Stout next year, said it's fun to "go out with a boom."