STATE TENNIS: Wilmot’s Andersen set to play Thursday

Sophomore selected as special qualifier

Writer’s note: To receive the full WIAA Division 1 individual state tennis bracket, it is accessible online at the organization website.

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Sophomore Bianca Andersen has been selected to represent Wilmot Union High School as a special qualifier at the WIAA Division 1 state girls tennis tournament.

According to Panthers’ coach Lisa Obertin, Andersen was beyond elated when the WIAA released the final draw on Friday.

“She was very excited and happy,” she said.

Bianca Andersen
Bianca Andersen

The tournament begins at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the University of Wisconsin campus at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 13. The three-day event wraps up with championship matches on Saturday.

Andersen, who boasts a 23-4 record, expects to play Watertown junior Ricki Budewitz (10-11) in the opening round.

The winner of the match faces Brookfield East senior Emma Corwin (20-4), who has a first round bye, and could give Andersen an opportunity to avenge last year’s loss.

“Bianca has a very winnable first round match,” Obertin said. “The second match is against Emma Corwin, who Bianca lost to at the sectional last year.”

“I hope to see Bianca put her whole game out there at the state tournament and not hold back,” she said.

Adding Andersen as a special qualifier came after she lost her first match in the Brookfield East sectional Oct. 5, where six other area athletes made an appearance.

The sectional, Obertin said, had a highly competitive field of multiple state qualifiers, including Bella Andersen’s first round match.

“Bella’s first round opponent qualified for the state tournament,” Obertin said.

Obertin reported that special qualifiers are selected based on a specific criteria, including an established record and history against high-ranked players in the state meet.

Early in the season, Andersen took Sun Prairie’s Lats Sysouvanh to a third set, where the Panthers sophomore lost 10-8.

Sysouvanh, who is the No. 8 seed, is 25-2.

Meanwhile, in the Brookfield East sectional, Westosha Central High School juniors Brooke Wysiatko and Katie Barningham (21-4) finished third of four qualifiers.

But, the other four, Falcons No. 1 doubles team of seniors Alyssa Hrncar/Tori Salerno, along with Wilmot singles players Bella Andersen (No. 2) and Brynn Amundson (No. 3), did not advance to the second round.

Amundson, a freshman, gives Obertin a sense of optimism entering next year with Bianca maintaining her position at No. 1 singles.

“I see Brynn working hard in the offseason,” Obertin said. “And I am hoping that Wilmot will have No. 1 and No. 2 singles representing Wilmot next year in the state tournament.”


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