Tennis players from three states and one Canadian province will journey to the C.C. Junior Tennis Tournament this week, but an Aberdeen entrant in the two-day meet has the shortest commute of all.
Joey Crompton, 17, lives right across the street from the Northern State Courts which is the site for the junior tennis meet for youth playing in divisions from ages 14 to 18.
"The tennis court is right there from my house," said Crompton, who played number two singles last spring for Aberdeen Central. "It's why I grew up playing tennis. I don't have to go very far."
Crompton, who will be a senior in the fall, has a long history with Central High School and the C.C. Lee tourney.
"I've been playing in the C.C. Lee for years - since I was 12 or 13. I try to play in the C.C. Lee every year. I won it when I was younger maybe 13, 14 and 15. Last year was the first year I lost right away. I had a tough match. I usually make it to the finals," said Crompton who has played on the Golden Eagle varsity team since eighth grade.
Crompton will be playing 18 singles and 18 doubles with his Central teammate Alex Grandbois. Crompton lost in the consolation championship at the state meet in the spring and Grandbois, who will be a senior in the fall, was sixth at flight five singles. They were not doubles partners in the 2013 high school season. Central's number one singles player, Aaron Lorenz, graduated.
"This year, I'll be playing number one and Alex and I might be pairing together for doubles," said Crompton. "Our coach (Trent Kurtz) is considering it. We usually do play doubles together at the C.C. Lee - at least three times."
Crompton is excited about the 18 singles division which contains several Aberdeen players: Jesse Margolies, Grandbois, Luke Stoebner, Eric Deboer and Dillon Prissel.
"Alex and I could meet in the finals," said Crompton. "It would be interesting and fun. We would take is seriously to a point, but not too much. I hope to play well and have some fun and see some of my teammates."
For the sixth season, Amy Albrecht will serve as the tournament director with an assist by the Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department tennis employees.
"We have about 60 players this year," said Albrecht. "That's so-so. What hurt us this year is Brandon Valley is having a tournament this week so we are missing some Sioux Falls people. That would make three tournaments in a row (Brookings, Aberdeen and Brandon)."
On Monday, two rounds of singles and one round of doubles are planned and on Tuesday, the semifinal and championship matches are scheduled.
The top seeded players in each division for girls are: 14 singles, Sydney Rott, Sioux Falls; 16 singles, Anna Steinwand, Moorhead, Minn.; 18 singles, Berkley Darr, Sioux Falls; 16 doubles, Kristen Hanson-Erica Hanson, Aberdeen; and 18 doubles, Darr-Mical Johnson, Canton.
The boys top seeds are: 14 singles, Luke Hietala, Duluth, Minn.; 18 singles, Jason Dilly, Clear Lake, Minn.; 14 doubles, Andrew Hartze-Isaiah Vilhauer, Aberdeen; and 18 doubles, Joey Crompton-Alex Grandbois, Aberdeen.
C.C. Lee Junior Tennis Tournament
When: Today through Tuesday.
Times: Starts today at 9 a.m. with the last match scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Finishes on Tuesday with a start time of 8 a.m. and last matches scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Where: Northern State tennis courts in Aberdeen.
Divisions: Boys' singles (14, 18), boys' doubles (14, 18), girls' singles (14, 16, 18) and girls' doubles (16, 18).
Entrants: About 60 with players from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada.