Prep athletes of the week: Mounds View tennis player Bjorn Swenson picks up where he left off

BJORN SWENSON

Mounds View • tennis

Swenson, a junior, picked up where he left off two years ago, when he won his first singles championship, by defeating talented Edina sophomore Matthew Fullerton 6-2, 6-4 in the Class 2A singles final.

Swenson, ranked by the USTA as the No. 3 player in the nation among boys under 18, finished the season 22-0.

Swenson, who has verbally committed to the University of Michigan, says he still loves high school tennis and was singularly focused on winning another title this year. "I was thinking about it every day. Missing a year of high school tennis is pretty tough when it's something I love to do," Swenson said.

With two state titles to his credit and a year of high school left, Swenson has other plans for his senior season. He'll play singles for the regular season, then hopes to pair with his younger brother Soren to play doubles for the postseason.

AVA CINNAMO

The Class 2A, Section 1 meet ended with four top-of-the-podium efforts for the junior. She won the 100 and 300 hurdles, the triple jump with leap of 37-1 and led off the winning 4x400 relay team (4:00.99).

AVA FITZGERALD

Roseville • track and field

The Raiders won the team title at the Class 2A, Section 4 meet, with Fitzgerald providing plenty of points. She won the 100 hurdles in 15.02 seconds, the 300 hurdles in 46.02 and led off the 4x200 relay team that took first in a time of 1:44.77.

CLAYTON HABERMAN

After leading the Mustangs to the Class 1A team championship, the senior won all four of his matches in the singles bracket, defeating Jack Linder of Mound Westonka 6-1, 6-2 in the finals. He did not lose a set in the tournament.

TAYLOR HESS

When the Irish needed her at her best, the senior pitcher, who has committed to Kentucky, responded with a three-hit 1-0 shutout in an elimination game in the Section 5 Class 3A championship.

SAM JANSKI

The junior helped the Wolfpack win back-to-back games over Eagan, 5-0 and 9-3, to capture the Class 4A, Section 3 championship. He was 5-for-8 with four RBI and came within one out of pitching a complete game in the deciding-game victory.

St. Francis • baseball

The junior lefthander pitched a one-hit, 16-strikeout 3-0 victory over Big Lake, then hit for the cycle with three RBI and three runs in a 10-3 victory over Monticello to help the Saints reach the Class 3A, Section 5 final.

JIM PAULSEN

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