MONROE - Kelsey Erickson and Dan Hager aren't strangers to playing team tennis.
Their doubles experience paid off Sunday, as Hager and Erickson teamed up to win the 36th annual City Mixed Doubles Tournament at Recreation Park - winning a tiebreaker in the championship.
Hager and Erickson went 3-0 in the tournament and won the title by defeating Patrick Gellings and Taylor Weis 3-6, 6-0, (10-7).
After taking second place in the mixed doubles tournament last year, Hager was excited to win the title.
"It feels really good to win it," said Hager who is attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a psychology major. "I knew we wouldn't finish last. I knew we had a chance to win it."
Hager said since he has played tennis with Erickson before, their team chemistry was better this time around because they knew where each other would be on the court.
Erickson, who will be a freshman at UW-Whitewater this fall, said that in the first set of the championship match they were too timid. At one point, Hager said they told each other they had to win the second set to force a tiebreaker.
In the quarterfinals, Hager and Erickson defeated Willie Noriega and Tessa Brown 6-1, 6-3. Hager and Erickson defeated Kevin Noriega and Ellie Grossen in the semifinals 6-3, 6-1. Christian Noriega and Emily Grossen defeated Kevin Noriega and Ellie Grossen 6-4, 7-5 to take third place.
Willie Noriega and Brown won the consolation by defeating Jess Hager and Anna Jenson 6-4, 6-3.
Jim Bartholf, former Monroe tennis coach and the tournament director, said the unique format of mixed doubles keeps the playing field competitive.
"A lot of times it comes down to the female player," Bartholf said. "If you have a good female player you can go a long ways."
Bartholf said Hager and Erickson were the favorites to win, given that they were the runner-up last year.
"Dan is a rare breed as a hockey and tennis player," Bartholf said. "Dan is a self-made tennis player. He has put in a lot of time. Kelsey is just a really solid doubles player."
Erickson was excited by the steady play.
"I think we really played well in the tournament this year," she said.
Their doubles experience paid off Sunday, as Hager and Erickson teamed up to win the 36th annual City Mixed Doubles Tournament at Recreation Park - winning a tiebreaker in the championship.
Hager and Erickson went 3-0 in the tournament and won the title by defeating Patrick Gellings and Taylor Weis 3-6, 6-0, (10-7).
After taking second place in the mixed doubles tournament last year, Hager was excited to win the title.
"It feels really good to win it," said Hager who is attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a psychology major. "I knew we wouldn't finish last. I knew we had a chance to win it."
Hager said since he has played tennis with Erickson before, their team chemistry was better this time around because they knew where each other would be on the court.
Erickson, who will be a freshman at UW-Whitewater this fall, said that in the first set of the championship match they were too timid. At one point, Hager said they told each other they had to win the second set to force a tiebreaker.
In the quarterfinals, Hager and Erickson defeated Willie Noriega and Tessa Brown 6-1, 6-3. Hager and Erickson defeated Kevin Noriega and Ellie Grossen in the semifinals 6-3, 6-1. Christian Noriega and Emily Grossen defeated Kevin Noriega and Ellie Grossen 6-4, 7-5 to take third place.
Willie Noriega and Brown won the consolation by defeating Jess Hager and Anna Jenson 6-4, 6-3.
Jim Bartholf, former Monroe tennis coach and the tournament director, said the unique format of mixed doubles keeps the playing field competitive.
"A lot of times it comes down to the female player," Bartholf said. "If you have a good female player you can go a long ways."
Bartholf said Hager and Erickson were the favorites to win, given that they were the runner-up last year.
"Dan is a rare breed as a hockey and tennis player," Bartholf said. "Dan is a self-made tennis player. He has put in a lot of time. Kelsey is just a really solid doubles player."
Erickson was excited by the steady play.
"I think we really played well in the tournament this year," she said.
