Lady Bulldogs Advance to Semi Finals Matches at State Tourney

“It was a great state tournament,” stated Abbey Trapp, head coach for the Milbank girls tennis team. The Lady Bulldogs fought hard and finished with 119.5 points at the 2025 South Dakota Girls State Tennis Tournament held in Sioux Falls on October 6-7. 

Sioux Falls Christian was named the champion in team play.  Rapid City Christian took second place.  St. Thomas More was third.  Milbank brought home ninth place. The top three flights in singles were also captured by Sioux Falls Christian. Anna Westenberg of SFC defeated Amity Strand of STM for the singles crown.

 “ In doubles we won two out of the three first-round matches,” Trapp said as she recapped Milbank’s progress through the brackets. “At No. 1 doubles,  junior Jenna Korstjens and freshman Payton Lamp  had a big win over Huron.  At No. 2  doubles,  senior Ashlynn Lamp and freshman Charlotte Swanson  defeated  the No  5 seed Vermillion.”  Both Milbank duos advanced to  the fifth and sixth-place semi finals matches.  “Milbank’s No  3 doubles – junior Bri Hicks and sophomore Becca Lavallee – fell short in their first match, but they still made it into the consolation championship,” Trapp explained.

The Lady Bulldogs also did well in singles play.  Korstjens,  P. Lamp, and Swanson each  won their first round match.  A. Lamp,  Hicks, and junior Cailtyn Frerichs fought hard and put up some incredible points, but they were defeated  in their first round.  Korstjens,  P. Lamp, and Swanson all played in the fifth and sixth-place semis. Korstjens and Swanson advanced to the fifth and sixth-place placement match. 

“They both played incredibly well, worked hard, and fought for every point,” Trapp said.  Both lost their match, which put them at sixth in their flight in the state.  Frerichs also played in her flight’s consolation championship but she came up short against Madison.

“It was great to see so many parents, grandparents, and fans come down to Sioux Falls to watch the girls,” Trapp said.  She also gave kudos to senior A. Lamp for her continued leadership on and off the court.  “Ashlynn fought hard in her last state tournament!”

Submitted Photo: (Back left to right) Caitlyn Frerichs, Rebecca Lavallee, Bri Hicks, Ashlynn Lamp,
Payton Lamp, Jenna Korstjens and Charlotte Swanson. (Front) Abbey Trapp, head coach and Hope Karels, assistant coach.