MANDAN, N.D. (KFYR) – Karter Hatzenbuhler has been the number one player for Mandan tennis for the last half decade. He’s now the elder statesman of the program he joined as a seventh-grader.

“When I was younger, I really looked up to the older players and the older generations to shape my game,” Hatzenbuhler said. “I think that having the little kids have another person like that is a really good thing.”

If you ask Hatzenbuhler or his coach about his game, they won’t talk about the physical aspect of his game first. They’ll mention the mental physique he has.

“As I have excelled through my years in tennis I started out struggling with pressure and things and some mental aspects,” Hatzenbuhler said. “I think growing my mental game was a big step for me and my game.”

“He keeps his cool,” Hatzenbuhler’s doubles partner Jared Christen said. “I rarely ever see Karter showing emotion on the court and I think it’s a good thing. He keeps his head in the game and doesn’t let his emotions control his shots.”

“I think the mental game is what separates the best teams from the weaker ones,” Mandan head coach Paul Christen said. “No matter how gifted or talented Karter was as a middle schooler, he still had to learn how to compete at the varsity level. I think he was number seven his seventh-grade year, and then he’s played number one since. Even then, you need to learn how to play against the best players and learn how to win points and that’s something that takes time and experience.”

Five seasons of time and experience have paid off. Hatzenbuhler is now Mandan’s all-time leader in doubles wins and second all-time in singles wins.

“I wasn’t really expecting that, but yeah, it’s really good to be a part of that history,” Hatzenbuhler said.

After he graduates, Hatzenbuhler plans on playing tennis in college.

“I’m always going to be on the court, so nothing to say goodbye to really,” Hatzenbuhler said.

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