By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
There did not used to be many full-time players on the Elkhorn Area High School boys’ tennis team. A time existed when few, if any, on the Elks’ roster played tennis in the offseason.
That is no longer the case.
“We are looking forward to a great year,” Elkhorn coach Mark Mergener said. “A lot of my players are playing year-round now, which is a big help.”
Even without players committed year-round to tennis the Elks maintained a competitive presence in the Southern Lakes Conference and WIAA postseason in recent years under Mergener and assistant coaches Donna Neshek and Nancy White. It stands to reason the program might be poised for giant steps if more players are committed to tennis year-round.
No one from the Elks advanced to state last season, but the team performed well May 29 in a WIAA Division 1 sectional meet at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison.
Madison Memorial hosted the sectional meet. The top four finishers in Flight 1 and the top finisher in Flight 2 in both singles and doubles competition at each sectional advance to the state tennis meet.
Elkhorn won the Badger sub sectional meet May 27 at Badger High School. Those who reach the semifinals in Flight 1 in singles and doubles play and those who reach the finals in Flights 2, 3 and 4 in singles and Flights 2 and 3 in doubles advanced from the sub sectional to the sectional meet.
The Elks finished fifth in the sectional with a total of 21 points. Elkhorn finished third last season in the Southern Lakes Conference.
Carter Olson is one of the Elks’ top returnees this season. Olson teamed with the new graduated Aaron Wales last season on Elkhorn’s No. 1 doubles team.
Wales and Olson shared the Robert Christensen Leadership award with Griffin Sweeney last season. The award is bestowed on those who make a significant leadership impact to the Elks’ squad. It is named in honor of Robert Christensen, a long-time supporter of area tennis.
Brant Christensen will be counted on as a varsity player this season after earning junior varsity MVP honors last year. Seth Kirkpatrick earned junior varsity Most Improved Player honors last season.
Badger and Westosha Central are expected to be among the top teams in the SLC this season.
