MONROE - Every tennis coach wants his team to be peaking come tournament time.
With the Badger Conference tournament less than a week away, Monroe coach Brad Saugstad is confident that his team is peaking at the right time after the Cheesemakers overpowered Milton, defeating the Red Hawks 5-2 Friday. With the win, Monroe (8-2, 4-1 Badger South) is in a tie with Fort Atkinson for second place in the conference behind Madison Edgewood. The Cheesemakers will host Fort Atkinson Monday in a decisive showdown for second place.
"We knew they were young," Saugstad said of Milton. "I wasn't expecting to win that handily. I give our boys a lot of credit tonight. They came out and took care of business just like we hoped to."
Monroe junior Carson Root at No. 1 singles defeated Milton senior Corey Singer 6-0, 6-2. Monroe freshman Taylor Soddy defeated sophomore Jared Matchette 6-0, 6-2. Senior Eric Knudtson at No. 3 singles beat junior Matt Schulz 6-1, 6-1.
"The thing I like about Carson is he knows what he has to do to get better," Saugstad said. "He doesn't need much coaching. He knows how to be successful."
The Cheesemakers have been getting solid singles play.
"Taylor at No. 2 singles has had a great year," he said. "Knudtson at No. 3 is a senior and a leader. He always expects more out of himself. That's a great role model for the team."
The Cheesemakers won two of the three doubles matches. At No. 1 doubles Monroe senior Patrick Gellings and junior Garrett Tschanz defeated Milton juniors Tyson Banh and Dylan Meyer 6-0, 6-1. The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of senior Jakob Baertschi and sophomore Cristian Noriega knocked off Rick Fassl and Jeff Mehler 6-3, 6-0.
Freshman Jess Hager lost at No. 4 singles to Milton sophomore Weston Lunder 6-2, 6-2. The Cheesemakers' sophomore tandem of Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro at No. 3 doubles also lost in straight sets to Milton's Tucker Hecimovich and Jake Lee 7-5, 6-2.
Monroe hosts the Cheesemaker Doubles tournament today and then a critical Badger South match against Fort Atkinson awaits on Monday.
"They have all picked it up right now," Saugstad said of the team. "I'm glad it's at the end of the year. It will be a tight one. We are used to the tight ones."
With the Badger Conference tournament less than a week away, Monroe coach Brad Saugstad is confident that his team is peaking at the right time after the Cheesemakers overpowered Milton, defeating the Red Hawks 5-2 Friday. With the win, Monroe (8-2, 4-1 Badger South) is in a tie with Fort Atkinson for second place in the conference behind Madison Edgewood. The Cheesemakers will host Fort Atkinson Monday in a decisive showdown for second place.
"We knew they were young," Saugstad said of Milton. "I wasn't expecting to win that handily. I give our boys a lot of credit tonight. They came out and took care of business just like we hoped to."
Monroe junior Carson Root at No. 1 singles defeated Milton senior Corey Singer 6-0, 6-2. Monroe freshman Taylor Soddy defeated sophomore Jared Matchette 6-0, 6-2. Senior Eric Knudtson at No. 3 singles beat junior Matt Schulz 6-1, 6-1.
"The thing I like about Carson is he knows what he has to do to get better," Saugstad said. "He doesn't need much coaching. He knows how to be successful."
The Cheesemakers have been getting solid singles play.
"Taylor at No. 2 singles has had a great year," he said. "Knudtson at No. 3 is a senior and a leader. He always expects more out of himself. That's a great role model for the team."
The Cheesemakers won two of the three doubles matches. At No. 1 doubles Monroe senior Patrick Gellings and junior Garrett Tschanz defeated Milton juniors Tyson Banh and Dylan Meyer 6-0, 6-1. The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of senior Jakob Baertschi and sophomore Cristian Noriega knocked off Rick Fassl and Jeff Mehler 6-3, 6-0.
Freshman Jess Hager lost at No. 4 singles to Milton sophomore Weston Lunder 6-2, 6-2. The Cheesemakers' sophomore tandem of Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro at No. 3 doubles also lost in straight sets to Milton's Tucker Hecimovich and Jake Lee 7-5, 6-2.
Monroe hosts the Cheesemaker Doubles tournament today and then a critical Badger South match against Fort Atkinson awaits on Monday.
"They have all picked it up right now," Saugstad said of the team. "I'm glad it's at the end of the year. It will be a tight one. We are used to the tight ones."
