Blake boys' tennis star takes different path during senior season

In six years as a member of the Blake boys' tennis team, Ben Ingbar has learned a few things. Leadership, for one. The difference between playing for a team and being a team player. And, perhaps most importantly, to enjoy the ride.

Ingbar, the defending Class 1A singles champion, won't get the chance to defend his title, which is exactly how he wants it. He was locked into the No. 1 spot in the Class 1A singles rankings all season, but decided to conclude his high school career on his own terms. That meant returning to doubles, where he and then-teammate Taylor Parr joined forces to win a state title in 2014.

"I always really enjoyed doubles more than singles," Ingbar said. "And I knew it would give [teammates] Jack [Barker] and Joe [Mairs] a good chance before we moved up to Class 2A."

Barker is No. 2 in the state singles rankings and Mairs is third. Having the state's top three Class 1A players is a big reason Blake is the overwhelming favorite to win the team championship in its last year competing among the smaller schools. The Bears will move up to Class 2A next season.

Ingbar will play singles for the team competition for Blake, which was the best team in the state this season regardless of class. The Bears rolled through the season undefeated, losing just six individual matches. Ten of their team victories were against Class 2A teams, including two over No. 1 Minnetonka in the span of six days.

While Blake's dominance was largely the byproduct of an exceptionally talented lineup, it was bolstered by the lingering disappointment of a 2016 loss to eventual state champion Breck in the section finals.

"A lot of that was on us," Ingbar said. "We didn't play very well. This year, we kind of went back to the basics. All year, we were focused on getting better and building for the state tournament."

A doubles title is far from a certainty, however. Ingbar and Hall lost to Thomas and Matthew Metz of Breck in the section doubles final, meaning they qualified at the No. 2 pairing from the section.

"They're a solid doubles team," Ingbar said. "But I don't think we brought our best game. We've got a good chance."

No matter what happens, Ingbar reflected on how much things changed in his half-dozen seasons playing for Blake. "I don't have a specific memory that stands out, but just the way the six seasons played out. I've seen both sides, from being a little seventh-grader who wasn't in the lineup to now leading the team. It's gone by so fast, particularly the last two or three years. It's really been enjoyable."

After going 42 years between state championships, Minnetonka is poised to make it two in a row.

The defending champion Skippers have been ranked No. 1 all season and have proved worthy. They lost just two team matches, both to Blake. They have victories over every other metro team in the field and No. 2-seeded Rochester Mayo.