Blake's Top Tennis Players Face Tougher Competition In Practice

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Blake has the top-ranked boys tennis player in the state in Class A. The Bears also have the player ranked right after him, at number 2.

Together they make a pretty dynamic duo, even though they don't play doubles. Now, if we could only get them to play each other.

Ben Ingbar is the top-ranked boys tennis player in the state, in Class A.

"I'd say I try to be pretty consistent," he said.

Jack Barker is ranked number two.

I try to be a player that uses a lot of variety, so it mixes things up," Jack said.

Which means, if you think about it, these two guys face tougher competition in practice than they ever do in competition, all year long.

"We're pretty friendly. There's always a bit of competition between us," Jack said.

That competition between them is a big reason why they're both as good as they are. If they didn't have each other, they wouldn't be pushed and challenged every single day to the degree that they are now.

"I think he definitely makes me a better player," Jack said. "I think we're pushing each other to be the best players that we can be."

Ben agrees.

"I think it's key, because I think a lot of the other people that are up there just don't have a second or third person to really hit with, day-to-day," he said.

Coaches have taken notice, and they use the matchup to their advantage.

"Playing against each other helps them, every day in practice, versus a guy who is playing on a team that, there's nobody else anywhere near him, it's very hard for him to keep getting that workout," their coach said.

But we're still talking about practice. Not a game -- a practice. Because these guys are on the same team, they can't settle who's number 1 and who's number 2 on the court, unless they meet in the state tournament.

"Yeah, I think that's what we're both looking for, and that's probably what's going to happen, I think," Ben said.

And that would be just fine with their coach.

"Yeah, you'd love that as a coach, but then it means that I don't have to coach the match, so I get to relax and just watch," he said.