Girls open season 6-0 for the first week
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
There is little doubt the East Troy girls tennis team took its fair share of hits from graduation.
What also isn’t in question is that the Trojans plan to just keep on marching.
East Troy picked up right where it left off with two home quadrangular titles and a 6-0 record in the first week of the 2019 season to run its consecutive dual meet winning streak to 37 straight.
The Trojans enter the fall off a 25-0 record last year, a Rock Valley Conference title and a second-place sectional finish. Six seniors departed, but that hasn’t phased the returning girls and the newcomers, longtime coach Dave Lindow said.
“Our motto starting Day 1 after state last year was to reload and not rebuild,” said Lindow, who is entering his 26th season at the helm. “Our kids came in record numbers in the winter group lessons. The summer tennis clinic had over 30 girls attend open hitting sessions. They really put the time in, and it was a battle to make our varsity team.”
Lindow, who is assisted by Paul Kielas and Quinn Fitch, said he knew replacing the talent that graduated wouldn’t be an easy task.
Gone are three-time state medal winners Mackenzie Lindow and Erin Rice, the No. 2 doubles team of Belle Verbeten and Allison Slusar, who were 30-1 last year, along with varsity players Mikayla Lamping at No. 3 singles and Paige Metcalf at No. 3 doubles.
“Losing the best class to ever play tennis at East Troy High School was a challenge to them and to me,” Lindow said. “Everyone stepped up and put the time in. We will continue to get better every day and see where we land.”
Back to the varsity after they earned a letter last year are singles players junior Jessica Tess, senior Syd Raddeman and junior Izzy Galluzzo and junior doubles player Emma Scurek. Raddeman was a state qualifier last year.
Joining those four in the lineup the first two meets have been juniors Emily Stern and Olivia Egle at No. 3 doubles and freshmen Lauren Lindow, Sophia Rondeau, Katie Metcalf and Olivia Fitch.
East Troy opened 2019 with 7-0 victories over Columbus, Greendale Martin Luther and Milwaukee King. Lindow, playing at No. 1 singles, dropped just four games in six sets, while Raddeman ran the table at No. 2 singles.
The Trojans followed that effort with another clean sweep Monday, as they defeated Monroe (6-1), Whitewater (7-0) and Union Grove (4-3).
Picking up wins against Union Grove were Lindow at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-0; Raddeman at No. 2, 6-0, 6-0; Tess at No. 3, 6-0, 6-0; and Fitch-Scurek at No. 2 doubles, 6-4, 6-4.
Dropping matches to the Broncos were Galluzzo at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 5-7, 8-10; Rondeau-Metcalf at No. 1 doubles, 3-6, 3-6; and Egle-Stern at No. 3 doubles, 4-6, 6-1, 8-10.
Fitch-Scurek picked up a set victory in the dual against Monroe, a doubles team that advanced to state a year ago, as well as one over Whitewater, which was second in the Rock Valley Conference last season.
“These two showed incredible toughness in their first couple varsity matches,” Lindow said.
Lindow added that he couldn’t have asked for a better way to get the 2019 campaign under way.
“The season has started amazingly,” Lindow said. “(We’re) 6-0, and our kids have come running out of the gate. They worked hard all summer and were ready to roll on Day 1. … These kids worked really hard, and I’m so proud of them for wanting to improve and have a chance at a special season.”
The Trojans host another quadrangular Tuesday, Aug. 26, against Brown Deer, Edgerton and Milwaukee Ronald Reagan at 3:30 p.m.
