MADISON - The state run for the Monroe No. 1 doubles team of seniors Kevin Noriega and Matt Monahan came to an end Saturday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Brookfield Academy's Michael Rajchel and Jason Tan defeated Noriega and Monahan in a state consolation semifinal 6-2, 6-2. The Cheesemakers' duo lost to the fourth-seeded Brookfield Academy tandem. Noriega and Monahan finished in the top eight No. 1 doubles teams at state. Rajchel and Tan went on to take sixth-place at state. Noriega and Monahan finished the season 20-9.
It's the first time a Monroe boys tennis player has made a run to the final day to the state tournament since 2000.
"Matt and Kevin gave it their all but were just mentally and physically tired from the start of the match," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "Matt and Kevin's first three matches at state were all long, hard-fought matches that really drained the guys and they didn't have enough gas in the tank to beat a very strong Brookfield team."
Noriega and Monahan won just one game while Brookfield Academy was serving.
"That put a lot of pressure on them to win their own serving games and we just couldn't win enough of them," Saugstad said. "It was a great run for Matt and Kevin at the state tournament."
Brookfield Academy's Michael Rajchel and Jason Tan defeated Noriega and Monahan in a state consolation semifinal 6-2, 6-2. The Cheesemakers' duo lost to the fourth-seeded Brookfield Academy tandem. Noriega and Monahan finished in the top eight No. 1 doubles teams at state. Rajchel and Tan went on to take sixth-place at state. Noriega and Monahan finished the season 20-9.
It's the first time a Monroe boys tennis player has made a run to the final day to the state tournament since 2000.
"Matt and Kevin gave it their all but were just mentally and physically tired from the start of the match," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "Matt and Kevin's first three matches at state were all long, hard-fought matches that really drained the guys and they didn't have enough gas in the tank to beat a very strong Brookfield team."
Noriega and Monahan won just one game while Brookfield Academy was serving.
"That put a lot of pressure on them to win their own serving games and we just couldn't win enough of them," Saugstad said. "It was a great run for Matt and Kevin at the state tournament."
