Hrncar/Salerno notch top SLC tennis honors

Westosha Central seniors Tori Salerno and Alyssa Hrncar finished first at No. 1 doubles in the Southern Lakes Conference tennis meet (Jason Arndt/The Report).
Westosha Central seniors Tori Salerno and Alyssa Hrncar finished first at No. 1 doubles in the Southern Lakes Conference tennis meet (Jason Arndt/The Report).

Senior duo helps Central to third place finish

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

As juniors, Westosha Central High School’s Alyssa Hrncar and Tori Salerno took third in No. 1 doubles at the Southern Lakes Conference meet.

But, a year later, the duo supplanted their previous best when they finished first at the SLC tournament Saturday at Burlington, where they secured the title with a two-set defeat of Lake Geneva Badger’s Joanne Walczynski/Ava Anderson (6-3, 6-3).

While the duo had a top finish on their list of goals, Hrncar acknowledged the tournament possessed challenging competition, including this year’s title-holder Lake Geneva Badger.

“We know Badger is a competitor, Union Grove, all of them are competitors,” Hrncar said. “We knew we had to come out with our best, so that is what we did, and I am really happy.”

In just their second year as tennis partners, Hrncar noted teamwork and enthusiasm were instrumental in helping them succeed in conference as seniors.

“We just gel together and we have a lot of fun doing it,” Hrncar said.

However, Salerno added high intensity, including talking on the court, as another asset they possess.

“We don’t mind being the loudest girls on the court, we like to call it in or out, so that is what we do,” Salerno stated.

After an opening round shutout against Delavan-Darien, Hrncar/Salerno edged Burlington’s Katie Doujotas/Alyssa Caliva in two sets to move forward to the title match Saturday, when they captured first place.

The honor came as no surprise to Falcons coach Pat Brings, noting they exhibit leadership and drive to succeed.

“They are seniors, they have a fighting spirit and they never give up,” Brings stated. “They are very, very competitive, they want to win.”

Salerno agreed, noting they persevere through each match.

“It is just a matter of staying positive and keeping our level up and not getting down on ourselves,”

Along with the doubles team of Hrncar/Salerno, junior Ashley Wells and senior Michelle Belmont finished second at No. 2 following a loss to Lake Geneva’s Lilly Ripke and Olivia Stout (7-6 (0), 6-3).

However, according to Brings, the No. 2 doubles team stayed strong through the tournament, including an opening round defeat of Wilmot Union High School’s Grace Suiter/Maddie Lindemann (6-2, 6-3).

After they edged Wilmot, Wells/Belmont defeated Union Grove’s Karissa Franchesina/Brittney Wargolet, therefore, advancing to the title match.

“They played an awesome first match, and the second match was huge,” Brings stated. “I was very proud of them.”

Meanwhile, junior pair Katie Barningham and Brooke Wysiatko took third, courtesy of a win against Union Grove’s Kaitlyn Krause and Maddy Hansen at No. 3 doubles (6-0, 7-6 (8).

Barningham/Wysiatko, who entered the tournament 12-2 overall, won the opening round against Wilmot’s Shauna Murray/Jordan Potter (6-0, 6-2) before losing to Lake Geneva Badger’s Hannah Gage/Sophia Engerman (6-1, 6-2).

In singles play, senior Brantleigh Bannon placed third following her win against Burlington’s Chloe Olfs (6-4, 6-2).

Bannon, who stood at 5-2 before the tournament, captured an opening round win against Wilmot Union High School senior Rylee Amundson (6-3, 7-5), but lost to Lake Geneva Badger’s Mia Trent in the next round (6-0, 4-6, 6-3).

Junior Stephanie Dopuch took court at No. 1 singles, courtesy of a first round defeat of Elkhorn’s Gabby Richardson (6-4, 6-2), but dropped her next two matches, one to Bianca Andersen of Wilmot (6-3, 6-4) and the other against Union Grove’s Allie Miller (5-7, 6-4, 6-4).

Two other Falcons placed among the top five, sophomore Sara Backus at No. 2 singles and freshman Janell Gillmore in No. 3 singles.

Westosha Central finished third as a team while Lake Geneva Badger won the tournament.


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