Jamestown's Kale Backen, Aden Oettle headed to Grand Forks

Oct. 9—JAMESTOWN — Aden Oettle had never played a doubles tennis match with Kale Backen before this fall.

Apparently, the Jamestown High School duo works pretty well together.

Oettle and Backen are set to compete at the 2026 Boys State Tennis Championship beginning on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Choice Health and Fitness in Grand Forks.

"This is my first time going to State individually," Oettle said. "Last year we made it to State as a team which was a great experience. I am not nervous about anything and I am looking forward to playing doubles with Kale more."

Oettle is in his third year competing with the Blue Jay tennis team.

"The reason that I started playing tennis was that my dad taught me how to play when I was younger," Oettle said. "I started playing with my family when I was ten and joined the tennis team in seventh grade."

As a team the Blue Jays finished the season at 0-17. Oettle and Backen held the best record on the team at 3-3.

"In the off-season I did some tennis leagues at TRAC (Two Rivers Activity Center) that got me playing more matches and helped me get better," Oettle said. "Since last year I have played a lot of tennis matches against stronger players which made me more consistent and hit the ball harder."

During the season Oettle said he has spent around 13 hours per week practicing.

"Aden is consistent and he has shots in the bag and able to execute when he needs to," Backen said.

Backen has been playing tennis since his freshman year and has been on the Jays varsity roster ever since.

"My older brother played tennis and when he was a senior I was a freshman, it gave me a little time to hang with him," Backen said. "Tennis is a lifelong sport so I can play it when I'm older. I also play basketball and baseball too, so tennis helps with hand eye coordination and footwork."

Backen spent most of his summer playing baseball but said he did find a few occasions to practice tennis during the off-season. Since the season began in early August, Backen has spent a minimum of 10 hours per week out on the courts.

"I look up to Kale because if he misses a shot he is always ready for the next one," Oettle said. "Kale is a good doubles partner because if I make a mistake he is always there to support me."

Backen has competed at State in previous seasons but said this weekend's trip is hitting him a little bit different.

"I am a senior, so I know this will be my last high school tennis meet," Backen said. "I am looking forward to going out there and competing. The goal is to place at State. There are many very talented teams, so Aden and I will have to play some of our best tennis."

The duo is very capable of playing some good tennis.

"Aden and I had the same goal in mind at the West Region Tournament — to make it to State," Backen said. "We didn't get to play a ton during the season, but we developed a bond throughout the season that would give us a chance to make it. The bracket wasn't the best for our case but we took one game at a time and came out in a good spot."

At the WDA Tournament, Oettle and Backen started things with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Reece Blikre and Maddox Kotaska of Minot North. The Jamestown duo then lost in the semifinals, 6-1, 6-2 to Minot's Nolan Moore and Connor Ressler. Moore and Ressler were the top-seeded duo in the tournament.

The loss in the semis sent the Jays to the state qualifying match against Aiden Bye and Henrik Evanoff of Minot. Oettle and Backen defeated Evanoff and Bye in a 4-6, 7-6(5), 10-8 super tiebreak.

"(When we won) I fist-pumped the air and screamed: 'come on'" Backen said. "It was an incredible feeling knowing one of the Jamestown teams was going to State."

Oettle and Backen are the No. 5 seed out of the West Region and will play Konrad Borowicz and Isaac Johnson of West Fargo Sheyenne in the opening round of the tournament at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9.

"I am very thankful to my coaches for the support," Backen said. " I am looking forward to State."