By Kevin Cunningham
Sports Correspondent
The Whitewater High School girls tennis team has been busy the past week, and on Aug. 17, the Whippets participated in the 2016 Whitewater Quad. It was the team’s third meet in three days, and they finished second out of the four schools, going 2-1 for the day.
Westosha Central finished at 3-0 overall, the Whippets at 2-1, West Salem went 1-2 and Lake Mills finished 0-3. Whippets head coach Tim Nelson talked about the craziness of the week and what it meant for his team.
“We changed up the line-up today for several reasons,” he said. “Some girls are working on specific skills. They could benefit from playing doubles rather than singles or vice versa, thus improving on these skills. With our crazy schedule this week we haven’t been able to practice for this so I was pleased with how we played today.”
With there being four teams, each player or doubles pairing participated in three matches apiece. The Whippets’ No. 1 singles player, Amanda Kraayvanger and the No. 2 singles player, Ali Ketterhagen, both went undefeated.
In doubles, the No. 1 Whippets pairing of Milena Maroske and Whitney Treder played together for the first time in two years. Despite the unfamiliarity with playing as a duo, Maroske and Treder went 3-0 as well, earning the championship.
The next tournament for the Whippets, the Altoona Invite, was scheduled two days later, for Friday and Saturday. But, because of the threat of bad weather, the Invite was moved up a day, causing the Whippets to play five consecutive days.
Even though precautions were taken at the Altoona Invite, the team ended up not being able to play complete matches at times due to the weather. Seven different teams competed, but no championship was awarded because of the incomplete matches.
Maroske, Whitney Treder, Sydney Treder and Ketterhagen each won three matches apiece while Odessa Sonn and Sophie Olson won two. The Invite wrapped up the crazy week, but the Whippets were back at it on Aug. 23 when the team hosted Columbus.
Nelson said the team played very well in their matches, as they moved the ball very well and were aggressive at the net. Whitewater beat Columbus in three of the four singles matches and swept the three doubles matches, winning the dual, 6-1.
Kraayvanger and Ketterhagen won both of their sets, 6-0, not dropping a game. Sydney Treder also defeated her opponent, 6-1, 6-3.
In doubles, Maroske and Whitney Treder didn’t drop a game either. The duo of Maggie Hough and Hannah Delaney won their match, 6-1, 6-1 and Sonn and Olson won, 6-0, 6-1.
With the hectic week over, the Whippets get a little time off before their next match against Jefferson, starting at 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 29 at home.
