MONROE - Brad Saugstad and Chris Garrow relied on consistent volleys and cross-court shots to win their second straight Monroe Park Class A city doubles tournament Sunday, July 14 at Twining Park.
Saugstad, a second-grade teacher at Parkside Elementary School and Garrow, a finance manager for Kraft, cruised to the title by knocking off Al Schroeder and Elton Farr 6-2, 6-0 in the title match. Schroeder was an eight-time city singles champion, but didn't play the singles tournament this year because he is focused on making a USTA state tournament run in Madison. Schroeder is 1-5 in city doubles tournament championship matches.
"In our matches, neither one of us was the best singles player on the court, but together we were consistent," Garrow said after repeating as doubles champions at the 42nd annual tournament. "It's great. We played better than last year. We complement each other well. He's more aggressive and I'm more defensive."
Saugstad did admit that he and Garrow do share one quality in common.
"Jim Bartholf trained both of us and we both know how to play doubles," Saugstad said. "We thrive on consistency. We just want our opponent to give us a chance. We just keep the ball in play until we do."
Monroe's Taylor Soddy and Waunakee's Calvin Clack won a third-place match by defeating Joe Soddy and Dan Bartholf in three sets 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. Taylor Soddy and Clack opened the tournament by beating Willie Noriega and Frank Meier 6-0, 6-1. The only loss for Taylor Soddy and Clack came in the semifinals where they lost to eventual champions Saugstad and Garrow 6-2, 6-0.
After five straight years of finishing second place, Emily Grossen and Kelsey Erickson won the Class B championship defeating Christian Noriega and Bob Seichter 4-6, 6-1, 7-6. In the women's open division, Erin Gellings and Rachel Root defeated Katie Demianiuk and Chelsea Miller 6-2, 6-4 for the title.
"Relief is the best word you could use," said Grossen, who plays tennis at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and is entering her senior year.
Grossen always enjoys coming back to play in the city doubles tournament.
"We have been playing with these guys the last five years," she said. "It's like a family reunion every year."
Grossen and Erickson opened the tournament by defeating Jeremy Miller and Mark Jenson 2-6, 6-4, 7-6.
"We just had to have some fun," said Erickson who plays club tennis at UW-Whitewater. "Sometimes we can get too serious."
After dropping the first set in the title match, Grossen and Erickson battled back to win the second set. They cruised to a 5-2 lead in the third set before winning a tiebreaker to ice the championship.
"Point by point we just had to make sure we didn't get any momentum," Erickson said.
Kevin Kohlstedt and Austin Lewey defeated Miller and Jenson 7-6, 6-3 for third place in the Class B bracket. Kohlstedt and Lewey defeated Jakob Baertschi and Ellyott Baertschi in the first round 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. In the semifinals, Noriega and Seicther defeated Kohlstedt and Lewey in three sets 2-6, 6-0, 6-4.
Saugstad, a second-grade teacher at Parkside Elementary School and Garrow, a finance manager for Kraft, cruised to the title by knocking off Al Schroeder and Elton Farr 6-2, 6-0 in the title match. Schroeder was an eight-time city singles champion, but didn't play the singles tournament this year because he is focused on making a USTA state tournament run in Madison. Schroeder is 1-5 in city doubles tournament championship matches.
"In our matches, neither one of us was the best singles player on the court, but together we were consistent," Garrow said after repeating as doubles champions at the 42nd annual tournament. "It's great. We played better than last year. We complement each other well. He's more aggressive and I'm more defensive."
Saugstad did admit that he and Garrow do share one quality in common.
"Jim Bartholf trained both of us and we both know how to play doubles," Saugstad said. "We thrive on consistency. We just want our opponent to give us a chance. We just keep the ball in play until we do."
Monroe's Taylor Soddy and Waunakee's Calvin Clack won a third-place match by defeating Joe Soddy and Dan Bartholf in three sets 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. Taylor Soddy and Clack opened the tournament by beating Willie Noriega and Frank Meier 6-0, 6-1. The only loss for Taylor Soddy and Clack came in the semifinals where they lost to eventual champions Saugstad and Garrow 6-2, 6-0.
After five straight years of finishing second place, Emily Grossen and Kelsey Erickson won the Class B championship defeating Christian Noriega and Bob Seichter 4-6, 6-1, 7-6. In the women's open division, Erin Gellings and Rachel Root defeated Katie Demianiuk and Chelsea Miller 6-2, 6-4 for the title.
"Relief is the best word you could use," said Grossen, who plays tennis at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and is entering her senior year.
Grossen always enjoys coming back to play in the city doubles tournament.
"We have been playing with these guys the last five years," she said. "It's like a family reunion every year."
Grossen and Erickson opened the tournament by defeating Jeremy Miller and Mark Jenson 2-6, 6-4, 7-6.
"We just had to have some fun," said Erickson who plays club tennis at UW-Whitewater. "Sometimes we can get too serious."
After dropping the first set in the title match, Grossen and Erickson battled back to win the second set. They cruised to a 5-2 lead in the third set before winning a tiebreaker to ice the championship.
"Point by point we just had to make sure we didn't get any momentum," Erickson said.
Kevin Kohlstedt and Austin Lewey defeated Miller and Jenson 7-6, 6-3 for third place in the Class B bracket. Kohlstedt and Lewey defeated Jakob Baertschi and Ellyott Baertschi in the first round 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. In the semifinals, Noriega and Seicther defeated Kohlstedt and Lewey in three sets 2-6, 6-0, 6-4.
