MONROE - The game of tennis has come a long way in the city since Jim Bartholf started coaching almost a half century ago.
Bartholf reached the pinnacle of coaching when he was inducted into the Wisconsin High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in a ceremony Nov. 6 at a fall tennis clinic in Milwaukee.
"It felt really good," Bartholf said. "Not too many get that honor. I'm one of the only ones from the Madison area," he said of his induction into a club that includes about 28 coaches. "If you stick around long enough, good things will happen."
Bartholf's successes in 44 years as Monroe's boys tennis coach and 17 years as girls tennis coach included winning 28 combined Badger Conference titles, winning the WIAA boys Division 2 state championship in 1996 and having two girls state runners-up teams.
Bartholf won't forget his first season coaching when several wrestlers played tennis and Monroe didn't win a match.
"I just made up my mind, if I'm going to stay in tennis, I'm going to have to do something," he said. "We made a commitment to tennis and trying to get a good tennis program from there."
Bartholf compiled a dual match record of 365-110 and had at least one player in the state tournament in 42 of the 44 years he coached.
He developed city tennis tournaments and leagues targeting middle school and high school athletes.
Bartholf, who retired from coaching last season, will be replaced by Brad Saugstad, a former Monroe and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater tennis player.
"It has had a lot to do with the good kids I have had over the years," Bartholf said. "They have made me look good. If we would have had a Division 2 25 years ago, we would have several more state championships."
Bartholf reached the pinnacle of coaching when he was inducted into the Wisconsin High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in a ceremony Nov. 6 at a fall tennis clinic in Milwaukee.
"It felt really good," Bartholf said. "Not too many get that honor. I'm one of the only ones from the Madison area," he said of his induction into a club that includes about 28 coaches. "If you stick around long enough, good things will happen."
Bartholf's successes in 44 years as Monroe's boys tennis coach and 17 years as girls tennis coach included winning 28 combined Badger Conference titles, winning the WIAA boys Division 2 state championship in 1996 and having two girls state runners-up teams.
Bartholf won't forget his first season coaching when several wrestlers played tennis and Monroe didn't win a match.
"I just made up my mind, if I'm going to stay in tennis, I'm going to have to do something," he said. "We made a commitment to tennis and trying to get a good tennis program from there."
Bartholf compiled a dual match record of 365-110 and had at least one player in the state tournament in 42 of the 44 years he coached.
He developed city tennis tournaments and leagues targeting middle school and high school athletes.
Bartholf, who retired from coaching last season, will be replaced by Brad Saugstad, a former Monroe and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater tennis player.
"It has had a lot to do with the good kids I have had over the years," Bartholf said. "They have made me look good. If we would have had a Division 2 25 years ago, we would have several more state championships."
