The Edina Invitational returned after a five-year absence and the host Hornets won their own tournament for the first time taking four first place finishes along with a pair of seconds.
Edina finished with a grand total of 47 points. Second place went to Highland Park, one point better than Harding.
The last year The Edina Invitational was held was 2019. In the years prior to that the Hornets only won one gold medal. Today they won four. This tournament had seven flights, with four singles and three doubles. There were over 100 matches.
This was a dry run for the state tournament. It helps prepare the players due to the grueling nature of the event. Today some players had seven matches. And with long drawn out points you could see fatigue mistakes later in the day.
The time window was about the same with the start and finish 4:30 to 9:20. But this tournament was a bit different with whole team playing instead of just the ones and twos at singles and doubles. In the state everyone is in one big pot. Here each flight is siloed—meaning only first singles could play in first singles, second singles plays only second singles…and so on. That meant today was kind of like the state tournament for the thirds and fourths. Another difference with the state tournament is the double elimination portion. A loss at state and it is over for you. Today you can fight your way back. Three champions had one loss of the day with an extra round of action for fourth and second singles and first doubles.
Fourth singles proved to be the most competitive all day with five of their fourteen matches going three sets. Right off the bat Nica Johnson of Highland Park, the eventual champion at that flight, and Claire Watz of Edina went to three with Johnson prevailing. Watz worked her way back and then took the next meeting, which was Johnson’s first loss. That forced a deciding third set.
Winning a flight was worth 8 points, 6 to second, 4 to third, 3 if you won twice, 2 if you won once.
TEAM STANDINGS
- Edina 47
2. Highland Park 33
3. Harding 32
4. Washington 22
5. Eden Prairie 12
6. Burnsville 10
6. Tartan 10
8. Central 8
INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS
1ST SINGLES
- Phlower Vang, Highland Park
2. Jasmine Tran, Burnsville
3. Kimberly Tobar, Harding
2ND SINGLES
- Hazel Dang, Edina
2. Tsheng Yang, Highland Park
3. Sebrina Xiong, Tartan
3RD SINGLES
- Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina
2. Gaozhia Vue, Harding
3. Nancy Hang, Washington
4TH SINGLES
- Nica Johnson, Highland Park
2. Claire Watz, Edina
3. Tiffany Tran, Harding
1ST DOUBLES
- Ivy Peterson/ Sanna Coma, Edina
2. Kasey Yang / Linda Chang, Harding
3. Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, Burnsville
2ND DOUBLES
- Bergan Pickett / Juman Alkhatib, Edina
2. Isabelle Gutierrez / Nay Gay, Harding
3. Alice Verbrugge/ Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park
3RD DOUBLES
- Megan Fang / Samira Khalif, Washington
2. Daisy Hennington / Ella Burke, Edina
3. Gaohli Chang / Nkaujhmong Vue, Harding
EDINA INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Code: B=Burnsville; C= Central; E= Edina; EP= Eden Prairie; H= Harding; HP = Highland Park; T= Tartan; W= Washington
FIRST SINGLES
Quarterfinals
Tenzin Tsephel, E def Rhea Yenubari, EP 21-9, 21-10
Phlower Vang, HP def Ariel Fang, W 21-17, 21-15
Jasmine Tran, B def Kalia Xiong, T 21-10, 21-9
Kimberly Tobar, H def Lennon Folstad, C 21-9, 21-18
Semifinals
Phlower Vang, HP def Tenzin Tsephel, E 21-19, 19-21, 21-16
Kimberly Tobar, H def Jasmine Tran, B 22-20, 21-19
Finals round 1
Phlower Vang, HP def Kimberly Tobar, H 21-15, 21-14
Play back 1
Ariel Fang, W def Rhea Yenubari, EP 21-15, 21-10
Lennon Folstad, C def Kalia Xiong, T 23-21, 21-15
Play back 2
Jasmine Tran, B def Ariel Fang, W 21-12, 21-16
Tenzin Tsephel, E def Lennon Folstad, C 21-10, 21-7
Play back 3
Jasmine Tran, B def Tenzin Tsephel, E 21-19, 21-15
Play Back 4
Jasmine Tran, B def Kimberly Tobar, H 21-8, 21-10
Finals round 2
Phlower Vang, HP def Jasmine Tran, B 21-18, 21-19
SECOND SINGLES
Quarterfinals
Hazel Dang, E def Elena Lissick, EP 21-13, 21-13
Tsheng Yang, HP def Eh Ku Paw, W 21-9, 21-8
Sebrina Xiong, T def Mioting Fang, B 21-18, 15-21, 21-15
Mayson Yelk, C def Gaohli Vang, H 21-13, 21-19
Semifinals
Hazel Dang, E def Tsheng Yang, HP 21-16, 21-11
Sebrina Xiong, T def Mayson Yelk, C 21-14, 21-13
Finals round 1
Hazel Dang, E def Sebrina Xiong, T 21-14, 21-18
Play back 1
Elena Lissick, EP def Eh Ku Paw, W 24-22, 22-20
Gaohli Vang, H def Mioting Fang, B 23-21, 21-17, 21-15
Play back 2
Mayson Yelk, C def Elena Lissick, EP 14-21, 21-14, 21-10
Tsheng Yang, HP def Gaohli Vang, H 12-21, 21-15, 21-19
play back 3
Tsheng Yang, HP def Mayson Yelk, C 21-18, 19-21, 21-15
play back 4
Tsheng Yang, HP def Sebrina Xiong, T 21-11, 21-12
finals round 2
Tsheng Yang, HP def Hazel Dang, E 21-16, 21-14
Finals round 3
Hazel Dang, E def Tsheng Yang, HP 21-13, 21-15
THIRD SINGLES
Quarterfinals
Gaozhia Vue, H def Houahna Yang, HP 21-17, 21-13
Aarushi Bhatnagar, E def Isabel Lange, B 21-14, 21-8
Maya Varikuti, EP def Susanna Tway, C 24-22, 21-9
Nancy Hang, W def Naw Claw, T 21-5, 21-10
Semifinals
Aarushi Bhatnagar, E def Gaozhia Vue, H 18-21, 21-16, 21-16
Nancy Hang, W def Maya Varikuti, EP 21-8, 21-13
Finals round 1
Aarushi Bhatnagar, E def Nancy Hang, W 21-17, 21-14
Play back 1
Houahna Yang, HP def Isabel Lange, B 21-15, 21-15
Naw Claw, T def Susanna Tway, C 18-21, 21-18, 21-16
Play back 2
Maya Varikuti, EP def Houahna Yang, HP 16-21, 21-19, 21-19
Gaozhia Vue, H def Naw Claw, T 23-21, 21-10
play back 3
Gaozhia Vue, H def Maya Varikuti, EP 21-15, 21-16
play back 4
Gaozhia Vue, H def Nancy Hang, W 21-18, 12-21, 21-18
finals round 2
Aarushi Bhatnagar, E def Gaozhia Vue, H 21-16, 18-21, 21-18
FOURTH SINGLES
Quarterfinals
Nica Johnson, HP def Claire Watz, E 19-21, 21-8, 21-19
Ma K Moo, W def. Celina Cheng, B 21-8, 21-12
Shreya Junaja, EP def Chantee Hang, T 21-16, 21-2
Tiffany Tran, H def Ryn Burks, C 21-14, 22-20
Semifinals
Nica Johnson, HP def Ma K Moo, W 21-8, 25-23
Tiffany Tran, H def Shreya Junaja, EP 18-21, 21-12, 21-12
Finals round 1
Nica Johnson, HP def Tiffany Tran, H 21-8, 25-23
Play back 1
Claire Watz, E def Celina Cheng, B 21-16, 21-17
Chantee Hang, T def Ryn Burks, C 17-21, 23-21, 21-17
Play back 2
Claire Watz, E def Shreya Junaja, EP 21-18, 21-6
Ma K Moo, W def. Chantee Hang, T 21-14, 21-14
play back 3
Claire Watz, E def Ma K Moo, W 21-19, 21-14
play back 4
Claire Watz, E def Tiffany Tran, H 22-20, 21-15
finals round 2
Claire Watz, E def Nica Johnson, HP 21-10, 19-21, 26-24
Finals round 3
Nica Johnson, HP def Claire Watz, E 18-21, 21-18, 21-15
FIRST DOUBLES
Quarterfinals
Edi Damiyo / Bety Shiferaw, HP def Alyson Santiago / Abygail Yang, T 21-11, 21-3
Kasey Yang / Linda Chang, H def Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, B 22-20, 21-9
Ivy Peterson / Sanna Coma, E def Say Paw / Gay Ler Htoo, W 21-7, 21-14
Lucy Dosch / Clara Rynkiewich, C def Olivia Ladegaard / Aish Balakrishna, EP 21-18, 21-17
Semifinals
Kasey Yang / Linda Chang, H def Edi Damiyo / Bety Shiferaw, HP 21-16, 21-18
Ivy Peterson / Sanna Coma, E def Lucy Dosch / Clara Rynkiewich, C 21-17, 21-10
Finals round 1
Kasey Yang / Linda Chang, H def Ivy Peterson / Sanna Coma, E 22-20, 12-21, 25-23
Play back 1
Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, B def Alyson Santiago / Abygail Yang, T 21-15, 21-9
Say Paw / Gay Ler Htoo, W def Olivia Ladegaard / Aish Balakrishna, EP 21-10, 21-10
Play back 2
Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, B def Lucy Dosch / Clara Rynkiewich, C 12-21, 21-14, 21-17
Edi Damiyo / Bety Shiferaw, HP def Say Paw / Gay Ler Htoo, W 8-21, 21-19, 21-12
play back 3
Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, B def Edi Damiyo / Bety Shiferaw, HP 16-21, 21-19, 23-21
play back 4
Ivy Peterson / Sanna Coma, E def Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, B 21-14, 21-12
finals round 2
Ivy Peterson / Sanna Coma, E def Kasey Yang / Linda Chang, H 17-21, 21-6, 22-20
Finals round 3
Ivy Peterson / Sanna Coma, E def Kasey Yang / Linda Chang, H 21-16, 19-21, 21-12
SECOND DOUBLES
Quarterfinals
Noly Lor / Gwendalyn Vang, T def Saisha Peram / Aashna Dhriti, EP 21-16, 21-19
Alice Verbrugge / Violet Solem Valentine, HP def Jadaliu Kuch / Violet Ruano, B 21-17, 21-7
Emiliah Lee / Samira Abdi, W def Isabelle Gutierrez / Nay Gay, H 18-21, 21-8, 21-19
Bergen Pickett / Juman Alkhatib, E def Eva Pratt / Iris Eason, C 21-12, 21-7
Semifinals
Alice Verbrugge / Violet Solem Valentine, HP def Noly Lor / Gwendalyn Vang, T 21-11, 22-20
Bergen Pickett / Juman Alkhatib, E def Emiliah Lee / Samira Abdi, W 21-6, 19-21, 21-14
Finals round 1
Bergen Pickett / Juman Alkhatib, E def Alice Verbrugge / Violet Solem Valentine, HP 21-23, 21-17, 21-18
Play back 1
Saisha Peram / Aashna Dhriti, EP def Jadaliu Kuch / Violet Ruano, B 21-12, 21-9
Isabelle Gutierrez / Nay Gay, H def Eva Pratt / Iris Eason, C 21-19, 21-4
Play back 2
Emiliah Lee / Samira Abdi, W def Saisha Peram / Aashna Dhriti, EP 21-18, 21-14
Isabelle Gutierrez / Nay Gay, H def Noly Lor / Gwendalyn Vang, T 21-9, 21-14
play back 3
Isabelle Gutierrez / Nay Gay, H def Emiliah Lee / Samira Abdi, W 21-16, 21-14
play back 4
Isabelle Gutierrez / Nay Gay, H def Alice Verbrugge / Violet Solem Valentine, HP 21-18, 21-17
finals round 2
Bergen Pickett / Juman Alkhatib, E def Isabelle Gutierrez / Nay Gay, H 21-16, 21-10
THIRD DOUBLES
Quarterfinals
Jia Becker / Kaoshoua Yang, C def Lavender Moua / Evylynn Yang, T 21-14, 21-14
Megan Fang / Samira Khalif, W def Abby Putz / Julia Yang, HP 21-19, 21-13
Daisy Hennington / Ella Burke, E def Kaylie Kriss / Gwen Sowieja, B 21-10, 21-3
Gaohli Chang / Nkauijhmong Vue, H def Delaney Smith / Maggy Achyutuni, EP 21-15, 21-9
Semifinals
Megan Fang / Samira Khalif, W def Jia Becker / Kaoshoua Yang, C 21-7, 21-6
Gaohli Chang / Nkauijhmong Vue, H def Daisy Hennington / Ella Burke, E 21-17, 21-18
Finals round 1
Megan Fang / Samira Khalif, W def Gaohli Chang / Nkauijhmong Vue, H 16-21, 21-14, 21-16
Play back 1
Abby Putz / Julia Yang, HP def Lavender Moua / Evylynn Yang, T 21-9, 21-17
Delaney Smith / Maggy Achyutuni, EP def Kaylie Kriss / Gwen Sowieja, B 21-5, 21-7
Play back 2
Daisy Hennington / Ella Burke, E def Abby Putz / Julia Yang, HP 21-14, 20-22, 21-12
Delaney Smith / Maggy Achyutuni, EP def Jia Becker / Kaoshoua Yang, C 21-11, 21-6
play back 3
Daisy Hennington / Ella Burke, E def Delaney Smith / Maggy Achyutuni, EP 21-10, 22-20
play back 4
Daisy Hennington / Ella Burke, E def Gaohli Chang / Nkauijhmong Vue, H 21-18, 20-22, 21-19
finals round 2
Megan Fang / Samira Khalif, W def Daisy Hennington / Ella Burke, E 21-15, 21-18