RETRO CARDINALS — Members of the 1994 Fairmont Cardinal state team-qualifying tennis roster include, front row (l-r): Maria Madsen and Katie Reber. Middle: Debbie Meyer, Michelle Musser and Jaime Abel. Back: Head coach Loren Dunham, Allison Bachmann, Sarah Gallagher, Emily Donnelly, Diane Hill, Anne Saxton, Katie Link, Casey Kuderer, Sara Kunkel and assistant coach Dick Tromanhauser. Fairmont went on to capture sixth place. (Photo submitted by Sarah Totzke)

FAIRMONT — Most successful prep athletic coaches are able to instill the feeling of a family environment within their teams.

For the Class A state-bound Fairmont Cardinal girls tennis program, the bonding and supportive connections are true to life, starting at the top.

Second-year Fairmont head coach Laura Olsen competed in the Iowa High School state tennis doubles tournament during her senior season at Estherville-Lincoln Central, while Cardinals’ varsity assistant Tim Slama qualified for both the Minnesota Class A state team and individual meets as a singles player for Blue Earth Area.

Fairmont’s real family connections to the sport do not stop there, however, as second doubles player Hope Klanderud has two older brothers and a younger sister representing the Cardinals on the courts.

Carter Klanderud netted a singles state bid during his playing days at FHS, Thomas Klanderud produced numerous wins as a Cardinal, while Emelia Klanderud — a current seventh-grader who played junior varsity tennis this fall — complete the family quartet.

First doubles player Ellie Hernes watched brother Ben and sister Anna delivers serves, third doubles netter Anika Haugen learned aspects of the game from brother Blake, second singles player Briana Joseph used to hit with brother Tony, as did senior alternate Rachel O’Connor with siblings Emily and Miranda.

Last, but hardly least, the most direct connection exists between senior twin sisters Libby and Maggy Totzke for the Fairmont tennis program.

The siblings combined forces for the first time during this season’s Section 2A individual tournament and exited the Swanson Tennis Center on the Gustavus Adolphus College campus in St. Peter with gold medals and a state individual berth at the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis on Thursday.

But wait, Libby and Maggy Totzke also have a genetic connection to Fairmont’s last state-qualifying team in their mother, Sarah (Gallagher) Totzke.

“I was an alternate on Fairmont’s 1992 (Class A) state qualifer before playing third doubles with Maria Madsen on the varsity team when I was a junior and we made the Class AA state tournament that year,” said Sarah (Gallagher) Totzke. “Similar to this year’s team, our 1994 lineup was senior-dominated, too.”

Sophomore standout Katie Reber handled the first singles duties for the Cardinals 27 years ago, while Gallagher and sophomore Maria Madsen were the other two underclassmen in the starting lineup.

Katie Link played second singles, Debbie Meyer returned shots from the No. 3 singles position, while Diane Hill proved solid at the No. 4 singles spot. Jaime Abel and Sara Kunkel combined at No. 1 doubles, while Emily Donnelly and Michelle Musser joined forces at No. 2 doubles. Link, Meyer, Hill, Abel, Kunkel, Donnelly and Musser — along with alternate Anne Saxton — were seniors that fall. Juniors Allison Bachmann and Casey Kuderer rounded out the 1994 Cardinals’ team coached by Loren Dunham and assisted by Dick Tromanhauser.

Blaine defeated Fairmont in the Class AA state quarterfinals, 5-2, with Link winning at second singles, while Donnelly and Musser adding a doubles point.

The Cardinals, however, bounced back with a 4-3 consolation semifinal win over St. Cloud Tech to earn a spot in the consolation championship dual meet. Reber and Link captured singles points for Fairmont, while the duos of Donnelly-Musser and Gallagher-Madsen delivered doubles wins.

Winona then edged Fairmont for fifth place, 4-3, with Reber and Link netting singles wins, while Donnelly and Musser generated a victory at No. 2 doubles.

“After being a part of two state-qualifying teams when I was in high school, the twins making it to state makes the whole experience extra special,” said Sarah (Gallagher) Totzke. “They share my love for the game, and really seem to have enjoyed tennis from the first time I sent them to (former FHS head coach) Eric Johnson’s CER summer program when they were 7 years old.

“I’m so happy they qualified for state both as a team and individually together during their final high school season. It wasn’t until the last point of the section team championship match that it hit me they were following in my footsteps and I’m so proud of them.”

“Honestly, we didn’t know that our mom had gone to state when she played tennis in high school,” both Libby and Maggy Totzke echoed. “It was a bit of a surprise when we learned that she played on the last Fairmont team to go to state.

“We think she really enjoyed being able to finally share the experience with us.”

Ironically, Libby and Maggy Totzke and teammates Ellie Hernes and Lauren Davis also share something in common with Fairmont’s doubles teams from the 1994 campaign.

The Totzke twins had to defeat Hernes and Davis in the 2021 Section 2A doubles championship showdown before Hernes and Davis captured the Cardinals’ second individual doubles state bid by fending off St. James Area’s Sailor Mohlenbrock and Allison Bluedorn in a true-second challenge match.

Abel and Kunkel downed Musser and Donnelly in the 1994 Section 2AA doubles finals before Musser and Donnelly beat Hutchinson’s Melanie Schwartz and Jamie Kokesch in a true-second battle.

Reber and Link made it a Cardinals’ individual sectional sweep when Reber captured the singles gold medal and Link struck silver without a true-second match.

“I’m ready to play at state and want to win, but the whole experience might be more about making lasting memories,” said Libby Totzke. “The last (prep) match I ever play will be with Maggy and that will be special.

“I didn’t think we’d ever get the chance to play as a doubles team or qualify for state individually, so that’s a bonus.”

“I just hope they both enjoy the moments at state,” said Sarah (Gallagher) Totzke. “Those will be ones that last a lifetime.”