By Kevin Cunningham
Sports Correspondent
Parent’s Day is meant to be special not just for the athletes, but the parents of those student-athletes as well. For the Whitewater High School boys tennis team, both the athletes and parents were given a treat on May 5 when the team shutout Jefferson in a 7-0 victory.
Whippets head coach Alex Mory said the team came out strong by playing aggressive and hitting huge serves.
“At No. 2 singles, Jan Maroske came out with some huge serves and aces to out-power his opponent, 6-0, 6-1,” Mory said. “At No. 3 singles, Dineth Gunawardena seemed to not be able to miss as he cruised with a 6-0, 6-0 win. All of the singles players played well and kept the pressure on for the entirety of the match and didn’t let up.
“At the doubles spots, the Whippets proved their depth at all positions and came away with convincing wins. Afterwards, the athletes greeted their parents with cards to show their thanks for everything the parents have done for them. It was a great scene and we are proud to have the most amazing parents four our student-athletes at Whitewater.”
At No. 1 singles, Brodie Runez won his match without dropping a game, 6-0, 6-0. No. 4 singles had Jon Brunner winning his match as well, 6-2, 6-4.
In No. 1 doubles, Mitch Dalzin and Nathaniel Jepson won their match, 6-0, 6-3. At No. 2 doubles, Devin Samaranayake and Griffin Nathan won, 6-0, 6-1. Finally at No. 3 doubles to complete the sweep, the duo of Justin Brantmeier and Michael Fernandez won their match, 6-3, 6-1.
On May 9, the Whippets honored five seniors, and against Big Foot, those seniors went out on a high note, winning, 5-2. Mory said the conditions were cold and windy, but the team proved that the elements wouldn’t hold them back.
All four singles matches went Whitewater’s way. Runez won No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-3, Maroske won No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-1, Gunawardena won No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-1 as well and Brunner won No. 4 singles in three sets, 7-6 (4), 1-6, 10-5.
Big Foot won the top-two doubles matches, but in No. 3 doubles, Fernandez and Brantmeier won their match, 6-0, 6-4. Mory said the No. 3 duo continues to impress him. He talked about his seniors and what they have meant to the Whippets’ program over the last four seasons.
“We would like to thank Griffin Nathan, Jan Maroske, Devin Samaranayake, Nathaniel Jepson and Hunter Riedel for their great effort this year and throughout their tennis careers,” Mory said. “We will miss them dearly next year but hope they continue their tennis playing career in the next chapters of their lives.”
Mory also said the conference meet was rescheduled to take place at 3 p.m. on May 17 and that it will be held at both Whitewater High School’s courts as well as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s courts. The team’s overall record to this point in 2016 is 7-3.
