NO. 1 — Fairmont senior singles participant Hope Klanderud tracks down a shot to the baseline throughout regular-season tennis motion on the Cardinal Courts in Fairmont. Klanderud has developed into considered one of southern Minnesota’s high netters on the No. 1 spot within the lineup. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — With one easy and mighty forehand, Fairmont’s Hope Klanderud blasts a passing shot winner previous her foe — sport, set and match level.

This is a part of her repertoire of tennis photographs the senior has at her disposal as she disposes of one other opponent.

Klanderud has occupied the No. 1 singles spot in head coach Laura Olsen’s tennis lineup for 2 years.

“She is such a good example of mental toughness, while also having fun and working hard,” Olsen mentioned. “Hope has had a very good season this year at No. 1 singles, competing very well with some high-level players. She has been a well-rounded player helping our team make it to the state tournament two years ago and qualifying for the individual state tournament in doubles.”

“Sometimes I feel the pressure of playing No. 1 singles. I study my opponents and look for a weakness I can exploit,” Klanderud mentioned. “Once I find that weakness, I can go back to it. Sometimes I can see my opponents’ weakness in warmups and sometimes it takes me a set. Eventually I’ll find it.”

Once Klanderud finds the weak point, look out as a result of she is sort of a maestro on the court docket. She will conduct her muscle mass to work in unison to supply her finest consequence attainable because of her number of photographs.

“Tennis is a game of hanging in there, playing with a good mind set and confidence,” Klanderud mentioned. “You have to be mentally tough on the court. Tennis is very physically demanding, but I have to think, too.”

“Hope is a competitive person and she takes on the challenge of playing No. 1 singles, knowing she gets the other team’s best player,” Fairmont assistant coach Tim Slama mentioned. “Hope is always ready for that challenge and takes a positive attitude onto the court. Her strengths on the court are she has a strong serve return and another is she plays the game with confidence.”

Klanderud is bodily and mentally making ready herself for the upcoming part crew and particular person tennis tournaments.

Last 12 months, she helped Fairmont make the part crew finals towards St. James Area, shedding 5-2. In the person part match, Klanderud teamed with Anika Haugen to make the doubles finals.

Klanderud and Haugen misplaced 6-3, 6-4 to St. James Area’s Allison Bluedorn and Keyana Haler within the championship match.

The Fairmont duo rebounded to beat Maple River’s Kelsey Jaegar and Macy Sohre within the True 2nd match, 6-3, 6-4, to earn a spot within the state match.

Klanderud performed doubles as a sophomore, serving to Fairmont make the Class A state meet.

Fairmont beat Morris Area-Chokio-Alberta/West Central Area 7-0 within the quarterfinals, however misplaced 7-0 to eventual state champion Breck School within the semifinals.

“I’ve been fortunate to make it to state the last two years,” Klanderud mentioned. “Our team made it in 2021 and last year Anika and I made it, so I have the state tournament experience. My goal this season is to make state again.”

Klanderud is presently 9-3 in her matches, shedding solely to River Valley’s Taylor Berkner, New Ulm’s Karlee Prahl and St. Peter’s Annika Southworth. Klanderud has a check developing as she faces Blue Earth Area’s Addison Armstrong on Tuesday.

If Klanderud performs singles within the upcoming part particular person match, she and Armstrong might meet once more.

Klanderud mentioned her court docket stamina and savvy set her aside from her opponents and set her as much as stand tall towards the most effective at what Minnesota has to supply on the No. 1 singles spot.

“I run outside of tennnis, knowing I have to have good stamina on the court if my match goes three sets,” Klanderud mentioned. “I need to put myself in the best shape physically, as well as mentally. I know I have to count on myself to be the best I can be. I have older brothers who are good in tennis and we play in the summers. I get used to them blasting shots my way, and they make me a better player.”

“I have been coaching Hope for about five years and it has been fun to watch her skills improve and her leadership continue to help our team in various ways,” Olsen mentioned.

She mentioned quite a lot of faculties have emailed her about taking part in, however for proper now she is concentrating on having fun with highschool.

“If a college program interests me, I’ll give playing college tennis a thought,” Klanderud mentioned. “I’m all about having fun and being competitive on the tennis courts with my high school teammates and coaches, playing the best I can and encouraging my teammates any way I can.”

Klanderud is undecided as to what main she needs to pursue on the faculty stage.

She is the center youngster of Lanelle and Corey Klanderud. Her older siblings are brothers Carter and Thomas, whereas her youthful siblings are brother Anthony and sisters Emelia and Delora.

Both Carter and Thomas performed highschool tennis at Fairmont, profitable their share of matches. Carter netted a singles state bid and Thomas performs faculty membership tennis at Iowa State.