MONROE - Al Schroeder has dominated the local tennis scene for more than a decade.
Schroeder continued his dominance over the weekend, cruising to his second straight Class A men's singles title in the 44th annual city tennis tournament Sunday at Recreation Park.
Schroeder, 47, has won the city singles championship in 10 of the past 13 years. He is playing in a USTA tennis league at a 4.5 level in Madison where he is 4-1 in singles.
"It feels great, and I'm really happy to win," Schroeder said. "Physically it gets harder to bounce back from each match. Experience allows me to play aggressively and relaxed. That's the secret. I've been able to raise my game when the tournament starts."
Schroeder defeated Freeport's Brandon Gaston 6-1, 6-1 in the title match. It's the second straight year he has defeated Gaston in the final.
"He (Gaston) had a tough work schedule, and he didn't get as much sleep as he wanted," Schroeder said. "His energy was down. I just feel like he was a little off his game. I was able to elevate my game above my normal."
There were 12 players in the Class A men's tournament. Kevin Monahan defeated Chris Garrow 7-6, 7-6 in a three-hour, third-place match.
"It was a good battle," said Jim Bartholf, the tournament director and former Monroe High School tennis coach who was inducted into the Wisconsin Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame. "Both of them are similar and like to volley from the service line."
Schroeder defeated Kevin Noriega in the quarterfinals 6-0, 6-1. In the semifinals, Schroeder beat Garrow 6-2, 6-0.
Monroe junior Silas Setterstrom defeated Frank Meier 6-4, 6-3 in the consolation match.
The tournament had just four players in the women's open bracket, which was won by Cecile Fuchs, 13, DeForest. Fuchs defeated Maggie Setterstrom 6-0, 6-0 in the title match. Setterstrom beat Chelsea Miller 6-3, 6-7, 12-10 in the semifinals to reach the championship match. Fuchs breezed by Erin Gellings 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals.
Bartholf started the city singles tennis tournament more than 44 years ago to get more children playing tennis. He noted that the number of tennis players has decreased over the years.
"Tennis is kind of down in the area," Bartholf said. "Not just in this area, but in the Madison area. I think soccer and softball are more appealing to kids when they are younger."
In the Class B men's tournament, Ellyott Baertschi defeated Mark Jenson in the title match 4-6, 6-2, 13-11. Steve Wandfluh knocked off Nick Dearth in the third-place match 6-4, 7-6.
Schroeder gave credit to the Bartholfs - Jim and Geri for keeping the tournament going.
"The Bartholfs deserve a lot of credit," Schroeder said. "They put a lot of work into this and making sure everyone gets into the tournament. I see the development of the young kids. Kevin Monahan and David Shon and Kevin and Chris Garrow were some really good close matches."
Schroeder continued his dominance over the weekend, cruising to his second straight Class A men's singles title in the 44th annual city tennis tournament Sunday at Recreation Park.
Schroeder, 47, has won the city singles championship in 10 of the past 13 years. He is playing in a USTA tennis league at a 4.5 level in Madison where he is 4-1 in singles.
"It feels great, and I'm really happy to win," Schroeder said. "Physically it gets harder to bounce back from each match. Experience allows me to play aggressively and relaxed. That's the secret. I've been able to raise my game when the tournament starts."
Schroeder defeated Freeport's Brandon Gaston 6-1, 6-1 in the title match. It's the second straight year he has defeated Gaston in the final.
"He (Gaston) had a tough work schedule, and he didn't get as much sleep as he wanted," Schroeder said. "His energy was down. I just feel like he was a little off his game. I was able to elevate my game above my normal."
There were 12 players in the Class A men's tournament. Kevin Monahan defeated Chris Garrow 7-6, 7-6 in a three-hour, third-place match.
"It was a good battle," said Jim Bartholf, the tournament director and former Monroe High School tennis coach who was inducted into the Wisconsin Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame. "Both of them are similar and like to volley from the service line."
Schroeder defeated Kevin Noriega in the quarterfinals 6-0, 6-1. In the semifinals, Schroeder beat Garrow 6-2, 6-0.
Monroe junior Silas Setterstrom defeated Frank Meier 6-4, 6-3 in the consolation match.
The tournament had just four players in the women's open bracket, which was won by Cecile Fuchs, 13, DeForest. Fuchs defeated Maggie Setterstrom 6-0, 6-0 in the title match. Setterstrom beat Chelsea Miller 6-3, 6-7, 12-10 in the semifinals to reach the championship match. Fuchs breezed by Erin Gellings 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals.
Bartholf started the city singles tennis tournament more than 44 years ago to get more children playing tennis. He noted that the number of tennis players has decreased over the years.
"Tennis is kind of down in the area," Bartholf said. "Not just in this area, but in the Madison area. I think soccer and softball are more appealing to kids when they are younger."
In the Class B men's tournament, Ellyott Baertschi defeated Mark Jenson in the title match 4-6, 6-2, 13-11. Steve Wandfluh knocked off Nick Dearth in the third-place match 6-4, 7-6.
Schroeder gave credit to the Bartholfs - Jim and Geri for keeping the tournament going.
"The Bartholfs deserve a lot of credit," Schroeder said. "They put a lot of work into this and making sure everyone gets into the tournament. I see the development of the young kids. Kevin Monahan and David Shon and Kevin and Chris Garrow were some really good close matches."
