MADISON - The last time the Monroe boys tennis team had an individual or doubles champion at the Badger Conference tennis tournament, the No. 1 song on the Billboard charts was Janet Jackson's "All for You" and Brad Saugstad, Monroe's tennis coach, was closing out his high school career.
Saugstad, along with Justin Haroldson, won a conference championship at No. 1 doubles in 2001. The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of Dan Healy and Jon Cappel and Mat Norder at No. 2 singles also won titles that year.
In 2010, the Cheesemakers wrapped up the first day of the Badger Conference tennis tournament Thursday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium with several players still in contention for titles.
"It shocked me," Saugstad said. "I didn't realize it had been that long. The boys talked about it earlier in the year about winning a championship and putting an end to that streak."
Monroe freshman Taylor Soddy at No. 2 singles, the No. 1 doubles tandem of senior Patrick Gellings and junior Garrett Tschanz, as well as the Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of senior Jakob Baertschi and sophomore Cristian Noriega are still vying for championships in the semifinals today.
Coming into the Badger Conference tournament, Monroe was sitting in third place in the Badger South by virtue of its 4-2 dual meet record. The Cheesemakers were one point behind Fort Atkinson (5-1) and two points behind Madison Edgewood (6-0).
Edgewood is looking to repeat as Badger South Conference champions. Edgewood and Verona have won the Badger South every year for the last seven years. The last time someone other than Edgewood or Verona won the Badger South came in 2002 when Monroe won the title.
"We knew everything would have to go right to catch Edgewood," Saugstad said. "Our goal is to sneak up and catch Fort."
After a first-round bye, Soddy, who is seeded second, defeated Milton sophomore Jared Matchette 6-2, 6-0. Soddy will play Fort Atkinson junior Jacob Starkweather in the semifinals. Soddy beat Starkweather in a dual match Monday and if he wins, he could face Waunakee senior Aaron Stoltenberg, who beat him earlier this year.
"Taylor is in a good position," Saugstad said. "I know Taylor wants to get some revenge after that loss," he said. "He wants to get to the championship and get another chance at him."
Gellings and Tschanz at No. 1 doubles also received a first-round bye. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo then defeated Sauk Prairie's top doubles team 6-1, 7-5. If Gellings and Tschanz get to the title match, they could face top-seeded Edgewood.
"They are really pumped to play in the semifinals," Saugstad said. "I think they wanted to play today. If they get to the championship, we will see what happens."
Baertschi and Noriega at No. 2 doubles opened the tournament with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Portage's No. 1 doubles team. Baertschi and Noriega then pulled out a three set win over Monona Grove 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-0.
"In the last week, those two have really turned it on," Saugstad said. "I have never seen them play better than they did in the first and third sets. They played with a lot of energy. They went into the net and put the ball right away. You could tell they were doing great because of the fist pumps and high fives."
Baertschi and Noriega will play top-seeded Edgewood in the semifinals today.
"The boys know they will have their work cut out for them," Saugstad said.
Monroe junior Carson Root opened the tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Stoughton's Mike Palmer. Root then lost to Waunakee senior Gabe Stauffacher 6-1, 6-0.
Senior Eric Knudtson at No. 3 singles defeated Sauk Prairie senior Eren Schiltz 7-6 (3), 6-1. He then lost a quarterfinal match to Fort Atkinson sophomore Marc Dahnert 6-0, 6-2. Freshman Jess Hager at No. 4 singles won a three set match over Reedsburg senior James Thew 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Hager then lost a quarterfinal match to Waunakee junior Alex Cordell 6-0, 6-4.
The Cheesemakers' sophomore No. 2 doubles team of Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro lost a first-round match to Fort Atkinson 6-1, 7-5.
"We were hoping to get our revenge," Knudtson said of Fort Atkinson, which beat the Cheesemakers 4-3 Monday. "We know we have what it takes to beat them."
As a senior, Knudtson finished his career playing conference tournaments at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"I like being here," he said. "It's been fun. I just wanted to go out and do my best."
Saugstad, along with Justin Haroldson, won a conference championship at No. 1 doubles in 2001. The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of Dan Healy and Jon Cappel and Mat Norder at No. 2 singles also won titles that year.
In 2010, the Cheesemakers wrapped up the first day of the Badger Conference tennis tournament Thursday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium with several players still in contention for titles.
"It shocked me," Saugstad said. "I didn't realize it had been that long. The boys talked about it earlier in the year about winning a championship and putting an end to that streak."
Monroe freshman Taylor Soddy at No. 2 singles, the No. 1 doubles tandem of senior Patrick Gellings and junior Garrett Tschanz, as well as the Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of senior Jakob Baertschi and sophomore Cristian Noriega are still vying for championships in the semifinals today.
Coming into the Badger Conference tournament, Monroe was sitting in third place in the Badger South by virtue of its 4-2 dual meet record. The Cheesemakers were one point behind Fort Atkinson (5-1) and two points behind Madison Edgewood (6-0).
Edgewood is looking to repeat as Badger South Conference champions. Edgewood and Verona have won the Badger South every year for the last seven years. The last time someone other than Edgewood or Verona won the Badger South came in 2002 when Monroe won the title.
"We knew everything would have to go right to catch Edgewood," Saugstad said. "Our goal is to sneak up and catch Fort."
After a first-round bye, Soddy, who is seeded second, defeated Milton sophomore Jared Matchette 6-2, 6-0. Soddy will play Fort Atkinson junior Jacob Starkweather in the semifinals. Soddy beat Starkweather in a dual match Monday and if he wins, he could face Waunakee senior Aaron Stoltenberg, who beat him earlier this year.
"Taylor is in a good position," Saugstad said. "I know Taylor wants to get some revenge after that loss," he said. "He wants to get to the championship and get another chance at him."
Gellings and Tschanz at No. 1 doubles also received a first-round bye. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo then defeated Sauk Prairie's top doubles team 6-1, 7-5. If Gellings and Tschanz get to the title match, they could face top-seeded Edgewood.
"They are really pumped to play in the semifinals," Saugstad said. "I think they wanted to play today. If they get to the championship, we will see what happens."
Baertschi and Noriega at No. 2 doubles opened the tournament with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Portage's No. 1 doubles team. Baertschi and Noriega then pulled out a three set win over Monona Grove 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-0.
"In the last week, those two have really turned it on," Saugstad said. "I have never seen them play better than they did in the first and third sets. They played with a lot of energy. They went into the net and put the ball right away. You could tell they were doing great because of the fist pumps and high fives."
Baertschi and Noriega will play top-seeded Edgewood in the semifinals today.
"The boys know they will have their work cut out for them," Saugstad said.
Monroe junior Carson Root opened the tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Stoughton's Mike Palmer. Root then lost to Waunakee senior Gabe Stauffacher 6-1, 6-0.
Senior Eric Knudtson at No. 3 singles defeated Sauk Prairie senior Eren Schiltz 7-6 (3), 6-1. He then lost a quarterfinal match to Fort Atkinson sophomore Marc Dahnert 6-0, 6-2. Freshman Jess Hager at No. 4 singles won a three set match over Reedsburg senior James Thew 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Hager then lost a quarterfinal match to Waunakee junior Alex Cordell 6-0, 6-4.
The Cheesemakers' sophomore No. 2 doubles team of Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro lost a first-round match to Fort Atkinson 6-1, 7-5.
"We were hoping to get our revenge," Knudtson said of Fort Atkinson, which beat the Cheesemakers 4-3 Monday. "We know we have what it takes to beat them."
As a senior, Knudtson finished his career playing conference tournaments at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"I like being here," he said. "It's been fun. I just wanted to go out and do my best."
