Lakeville South boys' tennis stability starts at home

Doug Roseth is a dad, coach and strategist. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Roseth is in his fifth season at the helm of the Lakeville South boys' tennis program. It's the same number of years that his oldest son, Chase, has been a member of the squad.

"Overall, it's been a positive experience," said Roseth, whose younger son, Hunter, is also now a member of the team. "Sometimes I think it's more difficult for them."

The Roseths have brought stability to a program that struggled for a time after the school opened in 2005. Doug has been able to pencil in the same singles lineup the past three years.

Chase and Hunter hold down the top two singles spots. Chase, a junior captain, plays at the No. 1 position while Hunter, a freshman, is at the No. 2 spot.

"There has been pretty good separation between the two [dad and coach]," Doug Roseth said. "I'm proud of both of them on and off the court."

His experienced youth movement doesn't just pertain to his own kids. Sophomore Trevor Tatge plays in the No. 3 singles position while freshman Adam Harvey is at the fourth spot. All four singles players won at least 20 matches last season.

"It's a nice luxury to have," Roseth said. "We have some guys playing doubles who could step into singles and do well. We have good depth."

The doubles lineup also will have a familiar look. Senior captain Tyler Scharber and junior Collin Sebring will once again play as the No. 1 pairing. They were also 20-match winners a year ago.

"This is their third year playing together, and they've done really well," Roseth said. "They won a lot of good, close matches for us last year."

Senior Tom Williams and junior Bradley Golant will hold down the No. 2 spot.

Senior captain Jake Zabel, junior Ethan Boche and freshman Cole Weitzel will figure in the mix for the third position.

"We work a lot with our doubles teams," Roseth said. "I feel that's where we can make a difference. We can be more creative and strategize with them."

The Cougars are coming off an 18-7 season in 2015. They have lost in the Class 2A, Section 1 semifinals in each of the previous three years.

"We're in a pretty tough section," Roseth said.

Rochester Century represented the section a year ago and finished third in the state tournament, losing to eventual state champion Mounds View. Rochester Century is currently ranked No. 4 in the coaches poll while Lakeville South is No. 8.

"Hopefully, we can build off last year," Roseth said. "They have a chance to be a special team."

He knows though that it won't come easy.

"We put demands on everybody to compete hard, but we also want to make it fun for them," Roseth said. "Everybody has a goal to get to the state tournament."

It's a destination the school has yet to reach.

"I think there are 10 to 12 teams that have a shot at winning state," Roseth said. "We haven't been able to say that in a long time. We're in that mix. We have a solid team."

Ron Haggstrom • 612-673-4498