Doubles key to Panther tennis season

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By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Even with an entirely different set-up entering the Panthers boys tennis season, there is still plenty of optimism, despite the loss of a key doubles player.

“We hope to get people through regionals, then sectionals and have a state qualifier,” said Wilmot Union High School Coach Lisa Obertin.

Wilmot, who stands at 3-1, suffered an early season loss of Mason Kuwik that resulted in several lineup adjustments.

Kuwik started the season inserted as the No. 1 doubles player with Brandon Zastrow, who both received second-team all Southern Lakes Conference a year ago.

Replacing Kuwik is sophomore Alex Tenhagen, who began at No. 1 singles, but Obertin believes in the Panthers duo.

“I still have hope, Brandon is tenacious, he has been a great player over the past four years,” Obertin said.

The Tenhagen and Zastrow combination won their first match (6-2, 6-1) in an April 21 dual meet against Burlington, where the Panthers won 6-1.

Tenhagen finished 7-8 as a freshman, primarily in No. 3 singles.

Forming the singles lineup are juniors Calyn Coose (2-2) at No. 1, followed by Brad Knoll (2-2) and senior Logan Souders (3-1).

Obertin has not solidified the No. 4 singles, but in Thursday’s dual meet against Burlington, Hunter Hess defeated Demons Kolin Schuerman (6-3, 7-5).

On the doubles side, to complement the No. 1 doubles team, Obertin has paired Michael Baum with Justin Jacobazzi and Shawn McCluskey with Josh Clark (3-1).

The pairs hope to replace the first-team all-SLC duo of Collin Robinson, lost to graduation, and Gavin Hammond, a freshman who opted not to return for his sophomore season.

“It is a different kind of a season, we had a major injury to one of our doubles players,” Obertin said. “So we had to pull someone from singles to play doubles – so that has changed the whole format.”

With a new squad, all it takes for them to succeed is to gel as a team, the coach said.

“We are set at what we are going to do with our lineup, and it is about getting comfortable with one another,” said Obertin, who hopes to finish in the upper half of the SLC this year.


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