By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
It was a good day Monday for the Waterford High School girls tennis squad.
At the WIAA Division 1 sub-sectional held at Burlington Monday, two of the Wolverine singles players, and two doubles teams, advanced to sectional action held Wednesday at Lake Geneva Badger.
“I am so very proud of the Waterford girls tennis team,” head coach Linda Jones said. “They worked hard over the season and the results show that.”
The two singles players who advanced were Emily Brekke at No. 3, and Haylie Ellie at No. 4.
In doubles action, Waterford’s No. 1 doubles team of Alyssa Helwig and Bridget Brockmann moved on, as did the No. 2 doubles team of Emily Rogahn and Taylor Webb.
In sub-sectional action, any individual or doubles team in the No. 1 bracket, only needs to win one match to advance to sectional. At No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 singles, as well as at No. 2, and No. 3 doubles, the players must reach the finals.
For Waterford, Helwig and Brockmann advanced on the basis of an easy 6-1, 6-1 victory.
“They are a solid and tough doubles team,” Jones said. “They have the ability to go on to the state tournament, and that is what we are striving for.”
Having Rogahn and Webb advance at No. 2 doubles was a pleasant surprise. Throughout the season, that pairing had competed at No. 3 doubles, but due to an injury to Katie Queram, Jones moved Rogahn and Webb up to No. 2.
Queram tore her ACL and strained her MCL in practice Sept. 27.
“They stepped up to the challenge and succeeded,” Jones said.
It was not easy for Rogahn and Webb as both of their matches went three sets. They won their opening match 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 over Burlington’s Lydia Crabtree and Sierra Koenen, who were the No. 1 seeded pairing.
They then defeated a Delavan-Darien pair 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to advance.
With Queram out, her partner Kate Weber was paired with Lauren Sikora at No. 3 doubles. That pair was unable to pull out a victory, losing a close three-setter.
Advancing in singles competition were Brekke and Ellie.
Brekke defeated Burlington’s Haley Jurecki 7-5, 6-0 in her opening match, and then easily dispatched her Badger opponent 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinal.
Ellie defeated Burlington’s Courtney Wieners 6-2, 6-4 in her first match, and then a Mukwonago player 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinal.
“Hayley’s game has come a long way this season,” Jones said. “Her consistency, good movement and ability to place the ball have earned her the success she is experiencing.”
Alyssa Schimelfenyg (No. 1 singles) and Sydney Ciano (No. 2 singles) were unable to advance.
Schimelfenyg lost 6-1, 6-1 to a tough Mukwonago player in her opening match.
Ciano won her first match 6-3, 6-1, but lost a tough three set match to Janesville Parker, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in the second round.
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