MONROE - For the past six years, the one constant remains the Monroe boys tennis team will have a No. 1 doubles team at state.
"A lot of teams don't emphasize doubles as much as we do," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said, who took over for former coach Jim Bartholf six years ago. Bartholf had a doubles team at state in 42 of the 44 years he coached.
"A lot of teams put their top players at singles and I like to spread them out between singles and doubles."
The Cheesemakers will add to that legacy this year with No. 1 doubles team of seniors Kevin Noriega and Matt Monahan and senior No. 1 singles player David Shon making the journey to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium. The three-day state tournament begins today.
"It's a really nice accomplishment for me and my family," Shon said who started playing tennis when he was 8 years old. "I will probably never get an opportunity like this again."
Shon (14-10) will play sixth-seeded Plymouth senior Matt Primozic (18-4) in a first-round match at 5:30 p.m. today. Shon has lost to Primozic once this year - 6-3, 6-1 and once last year.
"He's a tough opponent," Shon said. "He's an all-around player who has power and hits with a lot of spin. He likes to run around a lot. I just have to hit a lot of top spin shots. My goal is to make it to the second round."
Saugstad said the advantage for Shon is he's playing a familiar opponent.
"It's tough to beat a good player three times," Saugstad said. "We have that working for us."
At No. 1 doubles, Noriega and Monahan (18-7) will play Dominican's Alex Jensen and George Wong who are special state qualifiers. The Dominican duo played in a sectional where three of the top doubles teams enter the state tournament seeded.
"Whenever you hear their name (Dominican) you know they will be good and it will be a tough match," Noriega said. "The most important match is the first match. We know we have to play our best to have a chance."
This is Noriega's second straight year playing at state. He teamed with Mark Jenson last year.
"I just at least want to get to the third round and upset the No. 8 seed," Noriega said.
Monahan, who has played tennis with his father since he was young, is making his first state appearance. He's looking forward to the challenge.
"It means a lot to make it to state," Monahan said. "I just want to make sure we capitalize on it. As long as we play to the best of our ability, that is all we can do."
Monahan and Noriega both said they know Dominican's top doubles team has lost some close matches to other seeded teams at state.
"We are just focused on what we can bring to the table," Monahan said. "We just want to refine everything we have so we are playing smoothly and to the best of our ability."
Saugstad likes the chances of Noriega and Monahan marching on to the second round of the state tournament Friday. Only time will tell.
"Matt and Kevin both have really good ground strokes," Saugstad said. "Sometimes they rely on them too much. Matt and Kevin have to be ready to come up to the net and put pressure on them. We need to keep them loose and playing smart."
"A lot of teams don't emphasize doubles as much as we do," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said, who took over for former coach Jim Bartholf six years ago. Bartholf had a doubles team at state in 42 of the 44 years he coached.
"A lot of teams put their top players at singles and I like to spread them out between singles and doubles."
The Cheesemakers will add to that legacy this year with No. 1 doubles team of seniors Kevin Noriega and Matt Monahan and senior No. 1 singles player David Shon making the journey to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium. The three-day state tournament begins today.
"It's a really nice accomplishment for me and my family," Shon said who started playing tennis when he was 8 years old. "I will probably never get an opportunity like this again."
Shon (14-10) will play sixth-seeded Plymouth senior Matt Primozic (18-4) in a first-round match at 5:30 p.m. today. Shon has lost to Primozic once this year - 6-3, 6-1 and once last year.
"He's a tough opponent," Shon said. "He's an all-around player who has power and hits with a lot of spin. He likes to run around a lot. I just have to hit a lot of top spin shots. My goal is to make it to the second round."
Saugstad said the advantage for Shon is he's playing a familiar opponent.
"It's tough to beat a good player three times," Saugstad said. "We have that working for us."
At No. 1 doubles, Noriega and Monahan (18-7) will play Dominican's Alex Jensen and George Wong who are special state qualifiers. The Dominican duo played in a sectional where three of the top doubles teams enter the state tournament seeded.
"Whenever you hear their name (Dominican) you know they will be good and it will be a tough match," Noriega said. "The most important match is the first match. We know we have to play our best to have a chance."
This is Noriega's second straight year playing at state. He teamed with Mark Jenson last year.
"I just at least want to get to the third round and upset the No. 8 seed," Noriega said.
Monahan, who has played tennis with his father since he was young, is making his first state appearance. He's looking forward to the challenge.
"It means a lot to make it to state," Monahan said. "I just want to make sure we capitalize on it. As long as we play to the best of our ability, that is all we can do."
Monahan and Noriega both said they know Dominican's top doubles team has lost some close matches to other seeded teams at state.
"We are just focused on what we can bring to the table," Monahan said. "We just want to refine everything we have so we are playing smoothly and to the best of our ability."
Saugstad likes the chances of Noriega and Monahan marching on to the second round of the state tournament Friday. Only time will tell.
"Matt and Kevin both have really good ground strokes," Saugstad said. "Sometimes they rely on them too much. Matt and Kevin have to be ready to come up to the net and put pressure on them. We need to keep them loose and playing smart."
