By Dan Truttschel
Sports correspondent
For three members of the Big Foot-Williams Bay girls tennis team, the 2017 season isn’t quite done yet.
Now it’s on to the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament in Madison.
Sophomore Clare Heckert received a special qualifier into the singles field following last week’s sectional
This is the time of the year when all the effort pays off – but there’s still some goals to achieve, Big Foot coach Dan Dowden said.
“I think we just keep reminding them that this is what they have worked hard for,” he said. “Enjoy the atmosphere, but when the time comes to play, get your game faces on. I don’t feel there is much more for (me or assistant Dani Lawler) to do than (to) keep encouraging them to do their best.”
Meredith Heckert and Klesmith, who drew the tournament’s second seed, had a first-round bye in Madison.
The Big Foot duo, 21-2 overall, faced either the Altoona team of Morgan Dekan and Kate Harris (13-11) or the Racine Prairie team of Sarah Gessner and Haley Jones (12-12).
St. Joseph’s No. 1 doubles team of Kaitlyn Kalinka and Megan Setter (29-0), who beat Big Foot at the sectional, enters as the top-seeded doubles squad.
The bar has been set high for this weekend, Dowden said.
“At first, the podium was the goal, (but) I don’t think they knew how good they can be,” he said. “Now, however, I think they both know they can get to the top of the podium, and that is what they will be working for.”
Two victories by Big Foot and two by the East Troy duo of Mackenzie Lindow and Erin Rice will lead to a third match between the two teams. The Chiefs have a pair of victories over their East Troy counterparts already this season.
But there will be no looking ahead – or leaning on those wins if that match happens, Dowden said.
“I think it is always fun to see conference players at state,” he said. “Izzy and Meredith know they can not rely on the past. It will be a tough match if all lines up right.”
Clare Heckert (15-6 overall) opened her state appearance Thursday afternoon against Ashland senior Sydney Vyskocil (22-2). A win in that match would send Heckert to a second-round match Friday morning against St. Joseph junior Giana Apostoli (29-0), the fourth-seeded player in the field.
The top seed belongs to another St. Joseph girl, junior Olivia Czerwonka, who entered the tournament at 28-1 overall.
The goal for Heckert is pretty simple, Dowden said.
“Go out and have fun,” he said. “When Clare is relaxed and having fun, she is awesome to watch. Don’t worry about the score, get the next point and build from there.
“(The key is to) play her game. Clare knows how to win, now she just has to do it. Don’t stress over a lost point or game, come back and get the next one and all is even.”
One possible ace up the Chiefs’ sleeve is the previous experience of Meredith Heckert, who teamed with graduate Annie McGrail when she was a freshman to win the state title.
Knowing what lies ahead and being able to transfer that knowledge to her teammates could be an important piece to success, Dowden said.
“Experience is very important,” he said. “I think Meredith will be able to help both Izzy and Clare this week as we prepare for Thursday. I am sure there will be a lot of nerves for all three girls, but once warm up starts, I think they will be fine.”
Update: Clare Heckert defeated Vyskicil, 6-2, 6-4 in her first match Thursday. She was set to take the court today at 11 a.m. See next week’s issue of the Times/Reporter for complete coverage of the Big Foot-Williams Bay tennis players in their appearance at state.
Sectional results
Meredith Heckert and Klesmith picked up two sectional victories, as they beat the Thomas More duo of Brianna Flayter and Kaya Gordon, 6-0, 6-2, and the Edgewood team of Grace Drake and Kinsey Kessel, 6-3, 6-2.
“They were pretty dominating (in those two matches),” Dowden said. “When these two are on their game, they are like thunder and lightning.”
In the finals, they fell, 5-7, 0-6, to the St. Joseph duo – but weren’t that far from pulling off an upset over the talented Lancers’ team.
“They kept their heads, even when (they were) down,” Dowden said. “They did not give up. They placed balls where they needed to in order to get back into the set.
“(In the second set), several of their shots landed out by inches. They also had some problems when both St. Joseph girls attacked the net, and we did not lob well.”
Clare Heckert dropped her sectional match, 3-6, 1-6 to eventual third-place finisher, Lauren Carson, of Catholic Memorial.
“Clare played well,” Dowden said. “The other girl was able to hit more shots. Clare had several rallies that fell just short, resulting in a loss.”
