MONROE — Greta Rath defeated Grace Tostrud for the second straight year and Silas Setterstrom claimed his first men’s title this past weekend at he 47th annual Monroe Singles Tennis Tournament.
“In the championship of both the Men’s and Women’s Open, the two players who are playing the most tennis prevailed,” said Brad Saugstad, tournament director. “It really showed that to be at your top form you have to be playing a few times a week.”
Rath beat Tostrud 6-2, 6-2 a year after winning 7-5, 6-2 in the women’s final. Tostrud, a junior in the fall, was the No. 2 singles player for Monroe last fall and figures to move into the No. 1 roll this season.
In the first round of the Women’s Open, Emma Towne defeated Grace Mathiason 6-0, 6-1; Jenson Christensen topped Bekah Rath 6-4, 6-2; and Tostrud blanked Kerstin Miller 6-0, 6-0. Greta Rath received a bye.
In the semifinals of the women’s meet, Greta Rath upended Towne 6-0, 6-1 and Tostrud cruised by Jenson 6-2, 6-1.
Bekah Rath beat Kerstin Miller 6-4, 6-3 in the consolation semifinal and then held off Grace Mathiason 6-0, 6-4 in the consolation championship. Towne defeated Christensen in the third-place match 6-5, 6-4.
In the Men’s Open, Saugstad defeated Matthew Setterstrom 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and Ethan Towne held off Ayden Bergemann 7-5, 7-6 (5). In the second round, Al Schroeder knocked off Saugstad 6-2, 6-1; Frank Meier toppled Evan Thompson 6-0, 6-0. Chris Garrow tripped up Steve Wandfluh and Silas Setterstrom blanked Ethan Towne 6-0, 6-0.
In the men’s semifinal, Schroeder beat Meier 6-0, 6-3 and Silas Setterstrom finished strong against Garrow, 6-2, 6-1.
Silas Setterstrom then got redemption against Schroeder in the championship, winning 6-2, 6-3. Schroeder has won 11 titles since 2005 and beat Silas Setterstrom in the semifinals a year ago 6-4, 6-3, before losing to Joe Soddy in the final.
Monroe City Tennis Tournament
Men’s Open
First Round — Brad Saugstad defeated Matthew Setterstrom 6-0 6-0; Ethan Towne defeated Ayden Bergemann 7-5 7-6(5)
Second Round — Al Schroeder defeated Brad Saugstad 6-2 6-1; Frank Meier defeated Evan Thompson 6-0 6-0; Chris Garrow defeated Steve Wandfluh 6-0 6-1; Silas Setterstrom defeated Ethan Towne 6-0 6-0
Semifinals — Al Schroeder defeated Frank Meier 6-0 6-3; Silas Setterstrom defeated Chris Garrow 6-2 6-1
Consolation Semifinals — Evan Thompson defeated Matthew Setterstrom 6-3 6-4; Steve Wandfluh defeated Ayden Bergemann 6-0 6-0
Third Place — Chris Garrow defeated Frank Meier 7-6 (6) 6-3
Consolation — Steve Wandfluh defeated Evan Thompson 6-0 6-1
Championship — Silas Setterstrom defeated Al Schroeder 6-2 6-3
Women’s Open
First Round — Emma Towne defeated Grace Mathiason 6-0 6-1; Jensen Christensen defeated Bekah Rath 6-4 6-2; Grace Tostrud defeated Kerstin Miller 6-0 6-0
Semifinals — Greta Rath defeated Emma Towne 6-0 6-1; Grace Tostrud defeated Jensen Christensen 6-2 6-1
Consolation Semifinal — Bekah Rath defeated Kerstin Miller 6-4 6-3
Third Place — Emma Towne defeated Jensen Christensen 6-2 6-4
Consolation — Bekah Rath defeated Grace Mathiason 6-0 6-4
Championship — Greta Rath defeated Grace Tostrud 6-2 6-2
“In the championship of the Men’s Open, youth prevailed,” Saugstad said. “Al hit some nice balls that against most players would be winners, but Silas was able to put the ball back in play. Silas’s speed put pressure on Al throughout the match.”
In the men’s consolation semifinals, Thompson defeated Matthew Setterstrom 6-3, 6-4, and Wandfluh blanked Bergemann 6-0, 6-0. Wandfluh then defeated Thompson in the consolation championship 6-0, 6-1. Garrow took home third-place honors with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory over Meier.
The Monroe doubles tournament will be held August 4-5 with separate brackets for men and women. Interested players should contact Saugstad at 608-558-7666 to enter.
