Wilmot’s Andersen captures SLC tennis title

Sophomore Bianca Andersen captured the SLC girls tennis title Saturday at Burlington High School (Jason Arndt/The Report).
Sophomore Bianca Andersen captured the SLC girls tennis title Saturday at Burlington High School (Jason Arndt/The Report).

Brynn Amundson places third at No. 3 singles

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Entering the Southern Lakes Conference girls tennis tournament, Wilmot Union High School sophomore Bianca Andersen held an undefeated record at No. 1 singles in conference dual meets.

After the tournament at Burlington High School, where she collected a SLC title, her unbeaten record stayed intact when she defeated Lake Geneva Badger’s Alexis Wisdom.

“It feels super great, all of the hard work I put in, and it finally came,” said Andersen, who finished third as a freshman last year.

According to Panthers coach Lisa Obertin, Andersen stayed calm and composed in spite of some anxiety before her opening round match against Lacey Londre of Burlington, but the sophomore came through in straight sets (6-1, 6-1).

“Her first match on Thursday was outstanding, she had some nerves, you would have never known when she got out there on the court,” Obertin stated.

The semifinal against Westosha Central junior Stephanie Dopuch, however, was a challenge for Andersen.

In their previous two meetings, Andersen had an edge, winning both matches by the same score (6-3, 6-3).

“That one was a little close at one point and it was starting to get dark and (Andersen) mounted her comeback after being down in the second set and closed it out,” Obertin stated.

Andersen, set to face Wisdom in the title match, won her first meeting against the Badger athlete (6-0, 6-1).

But, according to Andersen, Wisdom intensified her efforts on the court Saturday.

“She is really good and has a really strong backhand,” said Andersen, who won 6-4, 6-3.

Obertin credited Andersen’s focus in the midst of the challenging match.

“Alexis had pushed her harder than before, and (Alexis) is a good player,” Obertin said. “Bianca handled herself so well on the court.”

When Andersen left the court, she was greeted with hugs from her teammates, and cried tears of joy.

“That meant so much to me, I love my team, and they made me feel super good,” Andersen stated.

Andersen was not the only Panther to place among the top four Saturday, when freshman Brynn Amundson won her third-place No. 3 singles match against Burlington’s Emily Johnson, taking the first set 6-2 and shutting Johnson down in the second set.

While Amundson came away with a convincing victory, Obertin was equally impressed with the freshman’s poise on the court.

“Her third-place match was probably one of the strongest matches that she has played, she just went out there with probably the most confidence she has had during the season,” Obertin said.

Brynn, who started the season 1-6, bounced back, winning five of the next six matches entering play (6-7).

Andersen’s sister, Bella, finished fourth at No. 2 singles following a loss to Lake Geneva’s Annabelle Alberts that went beyond a third set.

Bella, a senior, shutout Delavan-Darien’s Laura Farley in the first round, but lost to Burlington’s May Jagodzinski in the next round.

Bella was 5-3 in singles before the tournament.

Brynn’s sister, Rylee, picked up fifth place with a straight defeat of Waterford’s Jordan Brekke.

Entering the tournament, Rylee, a senior, had a 7-3 singles record.

The efforts of the Andersens and Amundsons steered the Panthers to fifth place.

Lake Geneva Badger won the meet while Union Grove took second.


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