By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The East Troy High School boys tennis team gave visiting McFarland quite a push in its Rock Valley Conference dual meet Monday afternoon.
But in the end, the Spartans just had too much firepower.
East Troy picked up two victories in doubles, but McFarland ran the table the rest of the way in a 5-2 victory to close out the conference dual meet season.
The loss dropped the Trojans to 9-5 and 4-2 in the RVC. East Troy opened its week with a 5-2 loss at Big Foot on May 1, followed by a 2-2 record at the Greendale Martin Luther Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
“I’m really proud of how far our kids have come during the year,” East Troy coach Dave Lindow said. “They have all battled and competed well.”
Winning matches Monday were Sam Jurgilanis and Griffin Gerber at No. 1, 7-5, 6-4 and Paul Friemoth and Connor Knudsen at No. 2, 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.
The victory for Jurgilanis and Gerber was their fourth in five matches.
“(They) moved to a more aggressive style of doubles, and it has paid off,” Lindow said. “These two are playing really well. They need to stay aggressive to move up in the conference tournament and come home with a medal.”
The Trojans’ No. 3 doubles team of Nick Schwall and Zack Burke lost in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 4-10.
All three doubles duos continue to play well, Lindow said.
“Our doubles teams are coming together after getting some time to play together,” he said. “All of our doubles teams will be in the top three seeds in the conference tournament, and I’m looking forward to seeing where they come out.”
Dropping singles matches Monday were Dayne Lindow at No. 1, 5-7, 4-6; Connor Paullin at No. 2, 1-6, 1-6; Mac Dudkiewicz at No. 3, 0-6, 2-6; and Josh Marshmen at No. 4, 2-6, 2-6.
“We had a shot at knocking off McFarland,” Lindow said. “Won two matches, lost one in a tiebreak, and Dayne gave the undefeated No. 1 singles player a run for his money. They were both 5-0 in conference play going into the match.”
East Troy tied Watertown Luther Prep and Milwaukee Lutheran/Lake Country Lutheran at 2-2 during the weekend invitational and earned a third-place finish via a tiebreaker. Greendale and Martin Luther both were 4-0.
Rounding out the team results were St. Thomas More and Cudahy at 1-3 and Brown Deer at 0-4.
Dayne Lindow and all three doubles teams finished 3-1 to lead the Trojans.
In the 5-2 loss to Big Foot to open the week, Lindow earned a win at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-0, while Marshmen was victorious at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-2.
East Troy competed in the RVC Tournament on Thursday on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. The Trojans return to dual action Monday with a non-conference matchup at Burlington.
“I’m looking forward to the conference tourney this Thursday and (seeing) what each of the kids can try to do and medal at their flight,” Lindow said.
“This season has been a pleasant surprise, especially having two talented freshmen playing No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Dayne has moved his record to 11-3 at No. 1 singles and has competed well in every match. I’m really proud of him playing the toughest sport in tennis. Connor (Paullin) is steadily improving every match and will continue to get better.”
