Six super seniors lead tennis

By Jim den Hollander

jdenhollander@capitalnewspapers.com

Among the first members of the Wisconsin Dells High School tennis team four seasons ago were five freshmen members: Christina Gherke, Jordan Bork, Sasha Harmon, Karista Krueger and Jessica Luer.

Those five will be the first four-year graduating class from the team this fall and, along with second year team member and fellow senior, Amber Byrne, will play the leadership role on a team that is hoping to push a little further into the Conference, and more importantly, Sectional picture this season.

Bork, a team captain along with Krueger said when they joined the team four years ago, they didn't really even know the basics of the game.

(Now) "We kind of have an idea what we're doing and how to actually play," said Bork with a smile.

After learning the basics of the sport in their first season, the team has progressed and this season hopes to be a tougher threat against teams in the conference, said Bork and Krueger.

Bork returns to the number one doubles team after missing much of last season due to injury and she will be teamed up with Amber Byrne, a teammate she knows well from other sports (they played varsity basketball and softball together last season) but is somewhat unfamiliar with on the court.

"Towards the end of the year (last season), I played two matches with her," said Bork who will see former partner Christina Gherke head into singles matches this season.

As far as goals, Bork said, "Since I have a new partner, just mostly to learn new things about each other. She's good at the net, so I think we have a threat at the net."

The main thing though, in particular in the early matches is to develop a chemistry with Byrne and learn where each will be.

"With your partner, you have do decide if you want to play side-to-side or front-back. Hopefully this year, we'll be able to play front-back and that should work. She'll be at the front and I'll be in the back...It should be easier," said Bork.

Krueger, who will be one of the top singles players and after showing some promise last season she could be a player to contend with inside the conference.

As far as personal goals, Krueger said, "Really, I just try to play the game and improve every time."

Because of their own 'green' status when they joined the team as freshmen, Krueger and Bork are both aware of how tough it is to come into the sport with no previous experience.

There are four or so freshmen this season on the team and having that previous experience should make the seniors a little more patient when it comes to working with the younger teammates.

"A lot of the freshman are people just starting it," said Bork adding, "they don't know how to play. We want to help them."

There are some summer camps and things in the Dells for students, but for the most part, tennis just isn't a big sport in town, so at the beginning of a season, the team could be a step behind some towns where players have been on court in different programs since May.

"That's every time," said Krueger. "The first couple of matches (are tough). "

The best way to prepare quickly is to get on court and play competitive matches against teammates," agreed Bork and Krueger and head coach Larry Martin clearly agrees as he had them in competitive situations against each other at the WDHS courts on Wednesday, just three days into the practice schedule.

It was necessary as the team was looking to cram for its first test, coming on Tuesday when Black River Falls pays a visit for a 10 a.m. match at the WDHS courts.

After that, the locals will be in Mauston for a Triangular Thursday and hosts a cross-conference dual against the Monroe Cheesemakers on August 21.

The first conference meet of the season will be Sept. 2 when the locals play host to Reedsburg.

Both Krueger and Bork feel the team will be competitive in both doubles and singles matches.

Teams head into matches with their top four ranked singles players and three doubles teams.

While in practice challenges can change the status of who's who, head coach Larry Martin has a decent idea of who will be representing the school in varsity matches - at least early on.

"The primary singles players you see in this foursome: Christina Gherke, she's a four-year varsity player."

After playing number four singles her freshman year, Gherke played doubles in sophomore and junior and returns to senior this season.

Krueger has played singles for four seasons, varsity since her sophomore season.

Other seniors, Sasha Harmon and Jessica Luer will get a good look, both four year players having worked their way up through the system, said coach Martin.

Bork and Byrne will likely start the season as the Number One doubles team.

"They both played on separate doubles teams last year. There's a lot of athleticism there that we're trying to take advantage of. They're both aware of the doubles game and I think they can be very successful."

Amanda Moore and Mikayla McDonald played together last year and put together a nice resume.

"They played 'JV' for us last year and won 12 matches," said the coach adding "They had a .500 record. I always tell them, they don't know how good they can be yet. They've got a lot of potential. It's going to be very interesting to see them this year because, instead of stepping into Number Three Doubles, they're jumping up to Number Two and it's a step. They're more than capable of it."

As for the other doubles team, Martin said it is wide open, but perhaps and inside track goes to Maria Peterson and Erika McCabe, two more sophomores with a year of experience behind them.

"They played together at the top JV level for much of last season. Maria is a three year player for us. Erika is coming into her second year with the team, so they've definitely got the potential to do that."

Others in the mix, whether it be doubles or singles, include: Abbi Delmore, a solid three-sport athlete who has moved from the volleyball court to the tennis court this season, junior Tetyana Hladun, a junior entering her third year at the school and in the program, but starting a bit late as she was in Ukraine at the time tennis practices began.

The continuity that developed what looks to be a pretty solid varsity group this season continued with the arrival of four freshman team members this year.

So far, it appears to be a fairly active freshman girls class, but Martin ultimately would like to have seen a few more come out as well.

"Ideally (I'd like to have) six to eight per class)," said the coach. "That's where this senior group comes in so nicely. Five of them have been here from the beginning, Amber joined us last year, but its a good solid core group of six seniors. They bring a lot to the table. Leadership, experience, skills. That's going to help us out a lot this year.

"If we can get our other classes up to those numbers where we have 24 to 28 players, that will only make our program stronger.

"Right now, we're at 18-19 when Tetyana comes back, doesn't allow us to field a full JV. We have a couple of JV-only events so we find ourselves a little shorthanded in that regard."

As for the lack of summer play, Martin sees promise in that area.

"It's coming," said the coach. "We have our youth camp that coach (Michelle) Skipchak runs. She had 15 elementary students in it this year. The spring program that Ed O'Brien runs had good numbers as well. Amanda and Mikayla came from that program and it made a world of difference."