MONROE - Al Schroeder returned to the top of the local tennis scene winning the 43rd annual Class A men's singles tennis championship Sunday at Recreation Park.
Schroeder defeated Freeport's Brandon Gatson in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 for the title. It was Schroeder's eighth city singles championship in the last nine years. Schroeder, who plays USTA tennis in Madison, didn't play in the city singles tournament last year and his run of seven straight titles was snapped when Joe Soddy won the championship last year.
Schroeder, 46, of Monroe, wears a black brace now to help him as he battles forearm and elbow tendonitis.
"It still feels great," he said of winning the title. "I was able to compete. I'm getting some minor injuries and getting beat down more. When you play a lot, it's hard for it to heal. It means a lot to play in the local tournament. I probably will take a week off from playing tennis now."
Gatson brought a different challenge that Schroeder doesn't see often.
"Brandon is a lefty and the ball spins a little different when he hits it," Schroeder said. "It took me some time to get adjusted to it. It's good to get some more people from Freeport. We don't want it to be just Monroe only. It's good to have the families and the kids like Matt Monahan and Jeremy Miller who have really developed. This won't be around forever. I have to thank the Bartholfs (Jim and Geri Bartholf)."
Jim Bartholf, the former Monroe tennis coach who was inducted into the Wisconsin Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame, started the city singles tournament more than 43 years ago to get more children playing tennis.
The Class A men's tournament this year had 16 players. Schroeder defeated Taylor Soddy 6-1, 6-0 in the first match Saturday and then beat Kyle Everson 6-1, 6-1. He then defeated Matt Monahan in the semifinals 6-0, 6-0. Kevin Monahan defeated his son Matt in a third-place match 6-2, 6-3. He opened the tournament cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Dan Felter. He then edged David Shon in three sets in the semifinals 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
"It was really balanced," Jim Bartholf said. "We had a lot of talented players."
Monroe's Mark Jenson won the Class B men's tournament defeating Jakob Baertschi in the championship 6-3, 7-1 Sunday. Jenson opened the tournament knocking off Marius Schrademeier 10-4 Jenson then won a nail-biter over Ellyott Baertschi 7-5, 7-6. Bob Seichter won a third-place match in three sets over Schrademeier 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Checile Fuchs, 12, of DeForest, won the 14 and younger division. She defeated Chris Andraski 8-1 and cruised past Nick Benkert 8-0.
There was no women's division this year due to lack of participants.
Schroeder defeated Freeport's Brandon Gatson in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 for the title. It was Schroeder's eighth city singles championship in the last nine years. Schroeder, who plays USTA tennis in Madison, didn't play in the city singles tournament last year and his run of seven straight titles was snapped when Joe Soddy won the championship last year.
Schroeder, 46, of Monroe, wears a black brace now to help him as he battles forearm and elbow tendonitis.
"It still feels great," he said of winning the title. "I was able to compete. I'm getting some minor injuries and getting beat down more. When you play a lot, it's hard for it to heal. It means a lot to play in the local tournament. I probably will take a week off from playing tennis now."
Gatson brought a different challenge that Schroeder doesn't see often.
"Brandon is a lefty and the ball spins a little different when he hits it," Schroeder said. "It took me some time to get adjusted to it. It's good to get some more people from Freeport. We don't want it to be just Monroe only. It's good to have the families and the kids like Matt Monahan and Jeremy Miller who have really developed. This won't be around forever. I have to thank the Bartholfs (Jim and Geri Bartholf)."
Jim Bartholf, the former Monroe tennis coach who was inducted into the Wisconsin Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame, started the city singles tournament more than 43 years ago to get more children playing tennis.
The Class A men's tournament this year had 16 players. Schroeder defeated Taylor Soddy 6-1, 6-0 in the first match Saturday and then beat Kyle Everson 6-1, 6-1. He then defeated Matt Monahan in the semifinals 6-0, 6-0. Kevin Monahan defeated his son Matt in a third-place match 6-2, 6-3. He opened the tournament cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Dan Felter. He then edged David Shon in three sets in the semifinals 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
"It was really balanced," Jim Bartholf said. "We had a lot of talented players."
Monroe's Mark Jenson won the Class B men's tournament defeating Jakob Baertschi in the championship 6-3, 7-1 Sunday. Jenson opened the tournament knocking off Marius Schrademeier 10-4 Jenson then won a nail-biter over Ellyott Baertschi 7-5, 7-6. Bob Seichter won a third-place match in three sets over Schrademeier 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Checile Fuchs, 12, of DeForest, won the 14 and younger division. She defeated Chris Andraski 8-1 and cruised past Nick Benkert 8-0.
There was no women's division this year due to lack of participants.
