MONROE - Monroe's Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire are like twins when it comes to tennis, and today, the "twins" are making a play to turn their partnership into state gold.
The Cheesemakers' doubles duo developed a bond playing basketball in fifth grade. Both have aspirations of playing softball and tennis in college. They often finish each other's sentences and like to tell jokes between points on the court.
They even wear matching outfits on the court. "We have to wear the same things every match because we are superstitious," McGuire said.
The superstition extends to both girls playing with the same rackets throughout high school. Grossen used the same racket for four years before it broke in the Badger Conference tournament at the end of September, when Grossen and McGuire (21-3) lost their first two matches of the season.
"I had to use another racket at conference," Grossen said. "That was sad."
The Monroe senior No. 1 doubles tandem enters the WIAA Division 2 state tennis tournament for the second straight year, but this time as the No. 6 seed. Grossen and McGuire are the only public school tandem that received one of the top eight seeds.
"We are really honored to get a seed," McGuire said of being named among the private schools that dominate the top seeded teams. "We are honored to get another chance to end our season at state."
Grossen and McGuire will play East Troy seniors Paige Kloth and Abi Goode in the first round of the state tournament at 5 p.m. today, Oct. 17 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison. If they win, the Cheesemakers' tandem would play again at noon Friday, Oct. 18.
"It's really fun to go to state together with one of your best friends," Grossen said. "It makes the experience that much better."
Grossen and McGuire beat the same East Troy duo at sectionals last year in three sets. This is Grossen's third time competing at state and McGuire's second.
"We are hopeful to be extremely competitive in our first two matches, and our goal is to make it to Saturday," Grossen said.
Both contend they are better all-around tennis players this year.
"Last year we relied a lot on our athleticism," Grossen said. "Our shots are a lot better this year."
McGuire agrees that the pair can be prone to having a lot of confidence in their shots and not moving their feet at times.
"We have taken our shots for granted this year," McGuire said. "We don't think they will hit them back."
The only unbeaten doubles team in the state tournament is No. 1 seed Maddy Brown and Hayley Clope of Racine St. Catherine, who enter with a 29-0 mark. Madison Edgewood Martha Longley and Grace Seibert are the No. 5 seed and if they make a run, the Crusaders' tandem will have to play Brown and Clope.
If Grossen and McGuire can win two matches and get to the quarterfinals Friday, they could face No. 3 seed Julia Veitinger and Taylor Benard of the University School of Milwaukee.
But right now, the duo are not looking past the first-round match. Playing a doubles team they have played before won't be easy against Kloth and Goode, who have amassed a 22-2 mark this year.
"We got one of the hardest draws for the seeded teams," Grossen said. "It would be an honor for us to get to Saturday."
The Cheesemakers' doubles duo developed a bond playing basketball in fifth grade. Both have aspirations of playing softball and tennis in college. They often finish each other's sentences and like to tell jokes between points on the court.
They even wear matching outfits on the court. "We have to wear the same things every match because we are superstitious," McGuire said.
The superstition extends to both girls playing with the same rackets throughout high school. Grossen used the same racket for four years before it broke in the Badger Conference tournament at the end of September, when Grossen and McGuire (21-3) lost their first two matches of the season.
"I had to use another racket at conference," Grossen said. "That was sad."
The Monroe senior No. 1 doubles tandem enters the WIAA Division 2 state tennis tournament for the second straight year, but this time as the No. 6 seed. Grossen and McGuire are the only public school tandem that received one of the top eight seeds.
"We are really honored to get a seed," McGuire said of being named among the private schools that dominate the top seeded teams. "We are honored to get another chance to end our season at state."
Grossen and McGuire will play East Troy seniors Paige Kloth and Abi Goode in the first round of the state tournament at 5 p.m. today, Oct. 17 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison. If they win, the Cheesemakers' tandem would play again at noon Friday, Oct. 18.
"It's really fun to go to state together with one of your best friends," Grossen said. "It makes the experience that much better."
Grossen and McGuire beat the same East Troy duo at sectionals last year in three sets. This is Grossen's third time competing at state and McGuire's second.
"We are hopeful to be extremely competitive in our first two matches, and our goal is to make it to Saturday," Grossen said.
Both contend they are better all-around tennis players this year.
"Last year we relied a lot on our athleticism," Grossen said. "Our shots are a lot better this year."
McGuire agrees that the pair can be prone to having a lot of confidence in their shots and not moving their feet at times.
"We have taken our shots for granted this year," McGuire said. "We don't think they will hit them back."
The only unbeaten doubles team in the state tournament is No. 1 seed Maddy Brown and Hayley Clope of Racine St. Catherine, who enter with a 29-0 mark. Madison Edgewood Martha Longley and Grace Seibert are the No. 5 seed and if they make a run, the Crusaders' tandem will have to play Brown and Clope.
If Grossen and McGuire can win two matches and get to the quarterfinals Friday, they could face No. 3 seed Julia Veitinger and Taylor Benard of the University School of Milwaukee.
But right now, the duo are not looking past the first-round match. Playing a doubles team they have played before won't be easy against Kloth and Goode, who have amassed a 22-2 mark this year.
"We got one of the hardest draws for the seeded teams," Grossen said. "It would be an honor for us to get to Saturday."
