MONROE - Few teams are as hot and on a roll like the Monroe boys tennis team, heading into the Badger Conference tennis tournament.
Monroe has won four straight dual matches entering the conference tournament, which will be held Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium. The Cheesemakers enter the conference tournament in third place in the Badger South and one point behind Oregon and two points behind Madison Edgewood. The Cheesemakers got on a roll after shuffling the lineup early in the season. Monroe coach Brad Saugstad is confident that he has found the right mix in the lineup for the conference tournament.
"It's always nice when you come in on a little bit of a winning streak," Saugstad said. "The boys have been looking forward to this for two or three years because they knew we would have a lot of experienced players and could make a run at conference. They have been gearing up for this for a while. I feel a top three finish (overall) would be a good showing for us. It's all about if we can be clicking at the same time."
Monroe senior Taylor Soddy, who has qualified for state the last two years at No. 1 singles, enters the conference tournament with a first-round bye. Soddy (8-3) started the season playing No. 1 doubles, but has shifted back to singles and is playing strong. Soddy lost in the quarterfinals last year and finished fourth as a sophomore.
"I want to win it," he said. "I want to play my best tennis. This conference is pretty stacked when it comes to No. 1 singles players. It's definitely a tough Badger Conference this year.
Soddy said at least four players have a shot at winning the title.
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega (5-5) at No. 2 singles, sophomore Matt Monahan (6-5) at No. 3 singles and Jeremy Miller (6-6) at No. 4 singles are focused on winning two matches Friday to reach Saturday's semifinals.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of senior Josh Riese and junior Mark Jenson were unbeaten until losing to Stoughton's Tanner Kahl and Elijah Thunell in the Monroe Doubles Invite last week and dropped a match to Milton on Monday. Kahl and Thunell are the Vikings' top two singles players who are expected to play No. 2 doubles at the subsectional. Riese and Jenson (6-2) will look to get back on track at the conference tournament.
Monroe seniors Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager at No. 1 doubles (3-2) haven't played many matches together, but both are experienced players. Hager is an experienced singles player who shifted to doubles. At No. 3 doubles, Vince Wartenweiler and Jared Nix (5-2) are also primed to make a run to the semifinals.
"In most positions in the conference there is not much difference between a No. 1 and No. 6 seed," Saugstad said. "I think there will be a whole lot of upsets at the tournament this year. I feel like the boys are playing a whole lot smarter and more consistent. I don't think any of them think they have peaked yet. They feel like they have better tennis in them."
Saugstad said Waunakee is the favorite to win the tournament.
"Edgewood is not as strong as they have been in the past," he said. "It will take a full team effort to finish ahead of Oregon and possibly Edgewood."
Monroe has won four straight dual matches entering the conference tournament, which will be held Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium. The Cheesemakers enter the conference tournament in third place in the Badger South and one point behind Oregon and two points behind Madison Edgewood. The Cheesemakers got on a roll after shuffling the lineup early in the season. Monroe coach Brad Saugstad is confident that he has found the right mix in the lineup for the conference tournament.
"It's always nice when you come in on a little bit of a winning streak," Saugstad said. "The boys have been looking forward to this for two or three years because they knew we would have a lot of experienced players and could make a run at conference. They have been gearing up for this for a while. I feel a top three finish (overall) would be a good showing for us. It's all about if we can be clicking at the same time."
Monroe senior Taylor Soddy, who has qualified for state the last two years at No. 1 singles, enters the conference tournament with a first-round bye. Soddy (8-3) started the season playing No. 1 doubles, but has shifted back to singles and is playing strong. Soddy lost in the quarterfinals last year and finished fourth as a sophomore.
"I want to win it," he said. "I want to play my best tennis. This conference is pretty stacked when it comes to No. 1 singles players. It's definitely a tough Badger Conference this year.
Soddy said at least four players have a shot at winning the title.
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega (5-5) at No. 2 singles, sophomore Matt Monahan (6-5) at No. 3 singles and Jeremy Miller (6-6) at No. 4 singles are focused on winning two matches Friday to reach Saturday's semifinals.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of senior Josh Riese and junior Mark Jenson were unbeaten until losing to Stoughton's Tanner Kahl and Elijah Thunell in the Monroe Doubles Invite last week and dropped a match to Milton on Monday. Kahl and Thunell are the Vikings' top two singles players who are expected to play No. 2 doubles at the subsectional. Riese and Jenson (6-2) will look to get back on track at the conference tournament.
Monroe seniors Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager at No. 1 doubles (3-2) haven't played many matches together, but both are experienced players. Hager is an experienced singles player who shifted to doubles. At No. 3 doubles, Vince Wartenweiler and Jared Nix (5-2) are also primed to make a run to the semifinals.
"In most positions in the conference there is not much difference between a No. 1 and No. 6 seed," Saugstad said. "I think there will be a whole lot of upsets at the tournament this year. I feel like the boys are playing a whole lot smarter and more consistent. I don't think any of them think they have peaked yet. They feel like they have better tennis in them."
Saugstad said Waunakee is the favorite to win the tournament.
"Edgewood is not as strong as they have been in the past," he said. "It will take a full team effort to finish ahead of Oregon and possibly Edgewood."
