THE MEET: The 20th Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Team Tennis Championships will be held Friday and Saturday, June 13-14. The meet takes place at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wis. Action will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday and will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday. Ticket prices are $6 per session.
THE DIVISION 1 MATCH-UPS:
Division 1 - Quarterfinals (5:30 p.m. June 13)
Match-1: Eau Claire Memorial (17-5) vs. Waukesha South (19-5)
Match-2: Stevens Point (18-1) vs. Oregon (13-4)
Match-3: Middleton (15-5) vs. Marquette (18-5)
Match-4: Neenah (8-2) vs. Brookfield East (8-2)
Division 1 - Semifinals (9 a.m. June 14)
Match-5: Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2
Match-6: Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4
Division 1 - Championship (2 p.m. June 14)
Match-7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6
THE DIVISION 2 MATCH-UPS:
Division 2 - Semifinals (9 a.m. June 14)
Match-1: Notre Dame (10-4) vs. University School (2-3)
Match-2: Regis (18-2) vs. Edgewood (7-4)
Division 2 - Championship (2 p.m. June 14)
Match-3: Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2
LAST YEAR: Marquette extended its run of dominance in the Division 1 team competition by winning its seventh straight crown by posting a 7-0 win over Neenah in the championship match. In Division 2, University School won its seventh title in the last eight seasons by defeating defending champion Notre Dame 7-0 in the championship match.
THE HISTORY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS: The WIAA has sponsored a team championship in boys tennis since 1995. Team champions prior to that time were determined by points scored by individuals. Nicolet had dominated the Division 1 competition for years, winning a membership-leading 26 championships, including six (1997-99, 2004-06) since the advent of the two-division team tournament. Eight of the Knights championships came consecutively from 1967-74. Neenah is a distant second with 10 team titles. Marquette has nine titles, and six of University School’s eight titles came consecutively from 2006-11. Manitowoc and Whitefish Bay are next in line with six titles. Since the dual match format was adopted, Eau Claire Memorial has made the most State appearances, now with 17. Brookfield Central and Neenah have 13 appearances, with Edgewood, Homestead, Marquette and University School having qualified 11 times.
DIVISION 1 NOTES: Seven-time defending champion Marquette is making its eighth straight appearance and its 11th overall. In previous trips, the Hilltoppers produced State titles in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, as well as a runner-up finish in 2004. Eau Claire Memorial makes its membership-leading 17th appearance at State and its 13th in the last 14 years. The Old Abes’ furthest advance in the tournament has been to the semifinals on seven different occasions, the last coming in 2012. Last year’s runner-up Neenah makes its second straight State appearance and its 13th overall. The Rockets had a string of eight consecutive appearance from 2000-2007. The Rockets own a string of five straight championships from 1991-1995 and 10 overall titles. They also have six runner-up finishes. Brookfield East is making its fourth consecutive appearance and its sixth overall. The Spartans advanced to the semifinals the past two season before being ousted from title contention. Middleton is making its ninth appearance in the team tournament and its first since 2012. The Cardinals have finished runner-up on three occasions. Those coming in 2000, 2007 and 2009. Waukesha South returns to the State Team Tournament for the third time and for the first time since 2010. The only other experience at State came in 1996. In both previous appearances, the Blackshirts fell in the quarterfinal round. Stevens Point is making its second appearance in the State Team Tournament. The Panthers’ only previous experience came in 2006 when they advanced to the semifinals before falling out of title contention. Oregon is making its inaugural appearance in the State team tournament.
DIVISION 2 NOTES: The same four teams that competed in last year’s tournament are back again this season. Defending champion University School has qualified for the 11th time in the last 12 years, only failing to qualify in 2005 during that span. The Wildcats have won eight State titles overall. Six of those came in succession from 2006-11. In addition to that run, they won their first title in 2004 and added another championship last season. They have finished runner-up on two occasions, in 2003 and again in 2012. Last year’s runner-up Notre Dame returns to State for the sixth time overall and for the fifth consecutive year. The Tritons’ captured the gold trophy in 2012 and have finished runner-up in three of their prior appearances, in 2005, 2010 and last season. Edgewood qualifies for the State Team Tournament for the 11th straight year, which also accounts for its overall tally. The Crusaders’ best outcomes have been five runner-up finishes including 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011. Regis will be making its fourth appearance in the State Team Tournament. The Ramblers fell in the semifinals in that most recent appearance and in their first-ever experience at State in 2006 to account for their furthest advance in the tournament.
INDIVIDUAL HONORS: Felix Corwin of Brookfield East won his second straight Division 1 singles title by defeating his teammate David Horneffer 6-3, 6-3. Sophomore Patrick Krill and junior Henry Termuehlen Brookfield East won the Division 1 doubles title. The tandem defeated Ben Wait and Eric Stadola of Germantown in the championship match 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2). Zane Navratil, a senior from the Prairie School, became the first Division 2 player to win three consecutive individual championships with his 6-1, 6-4 victory over freshman Kai Sane of University School in the singles bracket final. Senior Mike Mirsberger and sophomore Tommy Matoska of Catholic Memorial captured the Division 2 doubles crown by defeating the sNate Calawerts and Nick Williams of Notre Dame by scores of 6-2, 6-0.
NEED RESULTS & INFORMATION?: Rosters and records of teams in the State tournament are available on the Media Center of the WIAA website. Results will be available on the Tennis Results page of the WIAA website at http://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/BoysTennis.aspx. Check out the results of State Individual Championships played June 5-7 on the tennis results page as well.
FOLLOW THE TOURNEY ON TWITTER: Receive the updates of the Boys State Tennis Tournaments on the WIAA State Tournament Twitter account @wiaawistate with the hashtag #wiaatennis.
WILSON IS OFFICIAL BALL OF THE WIAA: Wilson is the official ball and tennis supplier of the WIAA boys and girls Sectional and State Tennis Tournaments through the 2018 seasons.
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