Amanda Kraayvanger wins the No. 3 singles match against Jefferson Sept. 18. (Bob Mischka Photo)
Tennis team gets by Jefferson; swimmers perfect at 3-0
By Adam Knoll
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Whitewater High School volleyball team had a challenging week, losing two straight matches in straight sets, one to Evansville and the other to East Troy.
At the Brodhead tournament last week, the Whippets defeated Evansville on the way to the medal round. No such luck during the rematch as Evansville turned up the heat and the Whippets could not recover.
“We were unable to close out on the blocks,” head coach Kathy Bullis said. “We left holes in which our defense wasn’t able to cover.”
Myriama Smith-Trajore led Whitewater with seven kills while Carmen Wyatt had a team-high 12 assists.
Against East Troy, it was a bit more of the same for the Whippets despite giving it their all. With almost half of the season finished, Bullis is optimistic and knows small victories now can lead to bigger things down the road.
“The goal is to end the first half of the conference season with a win and take that momentum forward to the second half and play with confidence,” she said.
In the match against East Troy, Smith-Trajore again had seven kills and Carmen Wyatt had another 13 assists.
Tennis team wins 4-3
The Lady Whippet tennis team had a very close match against Jefferson go their way after an injury in the fourth singles match forced a retirement from Jefferson, handing Whitewater a 4-3 victory.
During a volley in that match, Whitewater’s Serra Anderson hit a shot down the line that her opponent could not recover for. In that moment, the Jefferson player fell and hurt her ankle, forcing the retirement. Anderson was up in the match at the time, having won the first set 7-5 and being tied in the second at 4-4.
Izzy Zahn started out strong but fell in her match 6-4, 1-6, 0-6, as she continues to find her groove. With her eating up the opposing team’s No. 1 player, however that has allowed other Whitewater singles players to be matched up against even competition.
Whitewater’s Amanda Kraayvanger was able to work out a win in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.
In doubles, Sally Hixon and Ally Sedmark won their match 6-4, 6-2. Whitney Treder and Milena Maroske also won in straight 6-2 sets.
“Tonight’s match was about as close as it gets,” head coach Tim Nelson said after the victory. “You don’t want to win a match like that but I was glad that we were winning that match when (the injury) happened. That match was going to go for a while… every game went deuce.”
“It was fitting that that match was the deciding one, as tonight was senior night and Serra is our only senior,” Nelson added.
Swimmer making waves
The Whitewater High School girls swimming team had a near perfect night defeating Platteville/Lancaster and Delavan-Darien during their latest dual in the pool. The Whippets are now 3-0 on the season.
Amazingly, the Whippets put up the 59 best times during the event, a feat almost unheard of. The top finishers for Whitewater in varsity events were as follows: 200 Medley Relay – Sydney Zimdars, Grace Fanshaw, Sara Foucault and Sydney Hackney; 200 Freestyle – Fanshaw; 50 Freestyle – Zimdars; 100 Butterly – Foucault; 100 Freestyle – Debra Krebs; 500 Freestyle – Zimdars; 100 Backstroke – Foucault; 100 Breaststroke – Fanshaw; 400 Freestyle Relay – Zimdars, Anna Yeazel, Krebs and Focault.
On the junior varsity side, Whitewater’s winners were: 200 IM – Abby Ramirez; 50 Freestyle – Ramirez; 100 Butterfly – Aide Mendoza; 100 Freestyle – Michelle Gantz; 500 Freestyle – Maritza Xochipa; 200 Freestyle Relay – Tabi Altreuter, Krystal Leon, Mati Tinazzi Martini and Xochipa; 100 Backstroke – Megan Hartwell; 400 Freestyle Relay – Emely Rodriguez, Xochipa, Alex Manske and Mendoza.
