MONROE - Taylor Soddy believes the third time could be a charm at the WIAA Division 2 state tennis tournament.
Soddy (13-6) at No. 1 singles is masking his third straight trip to state and is confident this may be his deepest run yet. Soddy will play a first-round match against sixth-seeded Catholic Memorial freshman Tommy Matoska (22-6) at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30.
"I don't even think words can describe it," Soddy said. "It's an amazing feeling to be able to represent the school district of Monroe. I really like my draw this year. For the first time, I don't have to play the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the first two rounds. I'm a little more motivated I can make a deep run."
The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of seniors Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager will play Altoona's Brady Kaiser and Alex Weber at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Kohlstedt and Hager (6-5) have played just 11 matches together, but come into the tournament on a roll.
"It's pretty exciting," Kohlstedt said. "I have worked hard over the years. It's nice to end my high school career at state."
Kohlstedt and Hager are confident that they can contend with the top doubles team from Altoona. Kohlstedt has had five different partners at No. 1 doubles this season and still feels confident that the best matches are ahead.
"I don't know if we have put together a complete total match," Kohlstedt said. "Hopefully, we can at state. We are starting to click a little bit together."
Kohlstedt said the keys will be keeping the ball in play and being solid at the net.
Hager doesn't know a lot about Altoona's No. 1 doubles team which is 16-4.
"I can't wait," Hager said. "I don't know what their record is and I don't need to know. It's go big or go home. We both have a sense of humor. It's all about the fun. I have to take all of my energy and put it into this year."
As a former singles player, Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said Hager can bring big shots from the baseline and Kohlstedt relies on consistency by keeping the ball in play.
"I think they have a good draw," Saugstad said of Kohlstedt and Hager. "When they get their games going, they can compete with a lot of teams at state. They have blended well together."
For Soddy and the Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team, this will be the final week of high school tennis matches. Playing on familiar courts at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison may not be an immediate advantage, but it will be a comfortable venue filled with emotions.
"It's a little different this year," Soddy said. "If you lose, you are done. I don't want to go home early."
Soddy (13-6) at No. 1 singles is masking his third straight trip to state and is confident this may be his deepest run yet. Soddy will play a first-round match against sixth-seeded Catholic Memorial freshman Tommy Matoska (22-6) at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30.
"I don't even think words can describe it," Soddy said. "It's an amazing feeling to be able to represent the school district of Monroe. I really like my draw this year. For the first time, I don't have to play the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the first two rounds. I'm a little more motivated I can make a deep run."
The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of seniors Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager will play Altoona's Brady Kaiser and Alex Weber at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Kohlstedt and Hager (6-5) have played just 11 matches together, but come into the tournament on a roll.
"It's pretty exciting," Kohlstedt said. "I have worked hard over the years. It's nice to end my high school career at state."
Kohlstedt and Hager are confident that they can contend with the top doubles team from Altoona. Kohlstedt has had five different partners at No. 1 doubles this season and still feels confident that the best matches are ahead.
"I don't know if we have put together a complete total match," Kohlstedt said. "Hopefully, we can at state. We are starting to click a little bit together."
Kohlstedt said the keys will be keeping the ball in play and being solid at the net.
Hager doesn't know a lot about Altoona's No. 1 doubles team which is 16-4.
"I can't wait," Hager said. "I don't know what their record is and I don't need to know. It's go big or go home. We both have a sense of humor. It's all about the fun. I have to take all of my energy and put it into this year."
As a former singles player, Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said Hager can bring big shots from the baseline and Kohlstedt relies on consistency by keeping the ball in play.
"I think they have a good draw," Saugstad said of Kohlstedt and Hager. "When they get their games going, they can compete with a lot of teams at state. They have blended well together."
For Soddy and the Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team, this will be the final week of high school tennis matches. Playing on familiar courts at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison may not be an immediate advantage, but it will be a comfortable venue filled with emotions.
"It's a little different this year," Soddy said. "If you lose, you are done. I don't want to go home early."
