By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
Donna Neshek’s first season as head coach of the Elkhorn Area High School girls tennis team must be considered a success.
Her lineup stayed consistent throughout the season and showed continued improvement.
One of the Elks flights – the No. 3 doubles duo of Erika Sesing and Samantha Price won the WIAA Division 1 Lake Geneva Badger girls tennis sectional tournament Oct. 3 at Lake Geneva.
Price and Sesing won the sectional title, but did not advance to the WIAA Division 1 State Individual Tennis Tournament at Madison’s Nielsen Tennis Stadium, though. The winner in the flights at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles advanced.
The two were named the Elks Most Valuable Players.
“They have great teamwork and they hate to lose,” Neshek said. “They have a winning attitude and a strong work ethic that is being passed along to the younger players.”
Neshek said Price and Sesing finished third at the Southern Lakes Conference Tournament Sept. 24 at Lake Geneva Badger High School. Overall this season Price and Sesing finished 13-7.
At the conference meet the Elks finished seventh of eight teams. Lake Geneva Badger and Union Grove tied for the conference championship. Elkhorn’s finished 3-4 in conference dual meets.
The Elks finished sixth in the final overall, conference standings. The final conference standings are determined by a combination of dual meet play and play at the conference tournament.
Other individual highlights for the Elks include No. 1 singles player Rachel White, who was also named the Elks Most Improved Player. She finished with a record of 7-12.
“She was our No. 1 singles player and faced the toughest competition in the conference,” Neshek said. “She improved to have great success for herself and the team at the end of the season.”
At No. 2 singles Haley Blum finished 9-10 overall.
“Haley played consistently all year and won many three-setters to help us win our three conference wins,” Neshek said. “She is a sophomore and will be one of our major strengths for next 2 years.”
Neshek also praised the leadership of seniors Margaret Koss and Alana Welsh, who played together as a doubles flight for the duration of their time in high school. The two served as team captains, along with Taylor Reed. Lindsey Klemp and Katrina Weber.
Neshek said the captains worked to organize activities for the team, such as themed dress-up days and team meals.
“They also arranged and ordered spirit wear for us,” Neshek said. “Along with the other captains they helped build our team and set great examples for our future captains.”
