MONROE - Al Schroeder withstood a third rain delay on Sunday to defeat Chris Garrow in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, to win the 37th annual Monroe city men's Class A singles tennis title for the third straight year at Recreation Park.
"I'm getting older and I will not be able to win these forever," Schroeder said. "They (city titles) have all been special. It's been a fun journey."
Schroeder, who won the title four of the last six years, started playing tennis with friends when he was 28. He has turned a workout opportunity into a passion.
"It just started to mushroom from there," he said.
The third rain delay hit when it came to break point in the first game of the first set in the men's Class A championship match. Schroeder's drive would not be spoiled when play was halted for six minutes due to slick courts.
Once play resumed, Schroeder won a long volley to win the first game. Garrow battled back from a 4-1 first set hole, winning two straight games to cut Schroeder's lead to 5-4.
Schroeder said the key was staying relaxed and focused during the delay.
"You can't dwell on that point being the match," Schroeder said. "You just have to execute one point at a time. It's a cliché, but it's true."
Schroeder won a first round match against Garrett Tschanz in straight sets on Saturday, 6-1, 6-0. He then defeated Gene Vincent in the quarterfinals, 6-1, 6-1. Schroeder earned a chance at a three-peat by defeating Dan Bartholf in the semifinals, 6-4, 6-0.
Two Monroe tennis players showcased their skills in the girls open championship match. In a friendly rivalry, Monroe sophomore Kristin McArdle defeated incoming freshman Ellie Shuda, 7-5, 6-3, to win her first city title.
"My goal was to make it to the championship match and see what happens from there," McArdle said. "I knew it would be a close match.
"We kind of knew each others strengths and weaknesses. It made it a little easier to play someone you know."
McArdle, who trailed 5-4 in the first set, won three straight games to steal the set.
"I was making a lot of errors early on," McArdle said. "I think I just started keeping the ball in play more."
McArdle received a bye in the first round and defeated Kiera Berger, 6-0, 6-0, in the semifinals.
Kevin Kohlstedt, 13, and an eighth grader at Monroe Middle School, won the 14-and-under round robin championship. Kohlstedt defeated Eric Bush, 8-5 and Calin Callahan, 9-7. It marked Kohlstedt's first city championship.
"It was pretty exciting," Kohlstedt said. "I haven't really won a tournament before."
The city singles tennis tournament was the brainchild of Monroe boys tennis coach Jim Bartholf almost four decades ago. Bartholf spearheaded a drive for summer opportunities.
"It was my way of getting young people playing tennis," Bartholf said. "Getting some interest in tennis is the reason I started it.
"If you didn't have a tournament and all you had were tennis lessons, they wouldn't see a reason to play tennis."
Bartholf has always enjoyed the 14-and-under division.
"A lot of those kids will be my high school players," he said.
With a soccer tournament, the Monroe Shootout, the Badger State Games, baseball and softball, Bartholf said, it's the first year the city tournament didn't have a Class B division.
"That was a disappointment," Bartholf said.
Bartholf will run a doubles tournament July 19-20 and a mixed doubles tournament Aug. 9-10 for the Park and Recreation department.
"I'm getting older and I will not be able to win these forever," Schroeder said. "They (city titles) have all been special. It's been a fun journey."
Schroeder, who won the title four of the last six years, started playing tennis with friends when he was 28. He has turned a workout opportunity into a passion.
"It just started to mushroom from there," he said.
The third rain delay hit when it came to break point in the first game of the first set in the men's Class A championship match. Schroeder's drive would not be spoiled when play was halted for six minutes due to slick courts.
Once play resumed, Schroeder won a long volley to win the first game. Garrow battled back from a 4-1 first set hole, winning two straight games to cut Schroeder's lead to 5-4.
Schroeder said the key was staying relaxed and focused during the delay.
"You can't dwell on that point being the match," Schroeder said. "You just have to execute one point at a time. It's a cliché, but it's true."
Schroeder won a first round match against Garrett Tschanz in straight sets on Saturday, 6-1, 6-0. He then defeated Gene Vincent in the quarterfinals, 6-1, 6-1. Schroeder earned a chance at a three-peat by defeating Dan Bartholf in the semifinals, 6-4, 6-0.
Two Monroe tennis players showcased their skills in the girls open championship match. In a friendly rivalry, Monroe sophomore Kristin McArdle defeated incoming freshman Ellie Shuda, 7-5, 6-3, to win her first city title.
"My goal was to make it to the championship match and see what happens from there," McArdle said. "I knew it would be a close match.
"We kind of knew each others strengths and weaknesses. It made it a little easier to play someone you know."
McArdle, who trailed 5-4 in the first set, won three straight games to steal the set.
"I was making a lot of errors early on," McArdle said. "I think I just started keeping the ball in play more."
McArdle received a bye in the first round and defeated Kiera Berger, 6-0, 6-0, in the semifinals.
Kevin Kohlstedt, 13, and an eighth grader at Monroe Middle School, won the 14-and-under round robin championship. Kohlstedt defeated Eric Bush, 8-5 and Calin Callahan, 9-7. It marked Kohlstedt's first city championship.
"It was pretty exciting," Kohlstedt said. "I haven't really won a tournament before."
The city singles tennis tournament was the brainchild of Monroe boys tennis coach Jim Bartholf almost four decades ago. Bartholf spearheaded a drive for summer opportunities.
"It was my way of getting young people playing tennis," Bartholf said. "Getting some interest in tennis is the reason I started it.
"If you didn't have a tournament and all you had were tennis lessons, they wouldn't see a reason to play tennis."
Bartholf has always enjoyed the 14-and-under division.
"A lot of those kids will be my high school players," he said.
With a soccer tournament, the Monroe Shootout, the Badger State Games, baseball and softball, Bartholf said, it's the first year the city tournament didn't have a Class B division.
"That was a disappointment," Bartholf said.
Bartholf will run a doubles tournament July 19-20 and a mixed doubles tournament Aug. 9-10 for the Park and Recreation department.
