By David Paulsen
Sports correspondent
Losing three of the winningest tennis players in school history after last season, and with a major shakeup in who is playing what position, the Whitewater High School girls tennis team knew this would be a rebuilding year.
“With not one person playing in the same spot as last year, and not one returing doubles team, we are going to struggle at times this year,” head coach Tim Nelson said prior to the start of the season.
That prediction came true throughout the season as the Whippets finished with a 12-10 dual record, and failed to win a Rock Valley Conference dual.
The season came to an end Oct. 7 at the WIAA Division 2 Madison Edgewood subsectional when none of the Whippet girls advanced to sectional action.
Vs. Luther Prep
Whitewater did end the regular season on a high note with a 6-1 victory over Watertown Luther Prep Oct. 1. The Whippets won all four singles matches, and two of the three doubles matches.
Chelsea Niemuth, at No. 1 singles won 6-0, 6-4, and Emily Markham also lost just four games in a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles.
Alex Cady duplicated Markham’s score with a win at No. 3 singles, and Tanner Musgrove pulled out a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 4 singles.
In doubles action, the No. 1 doubles team of Erika Levine and Kacie Snyder did not lose a game in their first set (6-0). They then finished off the match with a 6-4 edge in the second set.
At No. 2 doubles, Sally Hixson and Ali Sedmak won 6-4, 6-4.
The only loss came at No. 3 doubles where Grace Tisdale and Izzy Zahn lost a three-set match. The pairing sailed through the opening set 6-0, but lost the next two sets 6-3, 6-4.
Nelson noted it was a strange night with the weather. It started out windier than it had been all season, but the Whippets adapted to it. Then the wind calmed down and the girls struggled.
“I would have figured that it would have been the other way around,” Nelson said. “It was a nice night for the seniors as they were able to end their careers with a final dual win.”
Overall, Nelson was pleased with how the season went.
“With the number of kids that we lost last year and what I knew was coming back for other teams, I didn’t think that we would end up with anywhere near (12 wins).”
