By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Four members of the Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) girls tennis team advanced to the State Individual Tennis Tournament this weekend, Thursday, Oct. 16, through Saturday, Oct. 18, while the entire team advanced to the State Team Tournament the following week, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25.
Lindsey Arnold, a junior and the No. 1 Panther singles player who won conference, is among the top 16 in the state advancing for the No. 1 singles competition.
Ali O'Neal, a sophomore and the No. 2 singles player for SPASH, also advances, one of eight in that competition.
Also advancing are senior Maria Davis and sophomore Rachel Benn as the No. 1 SPASH doubles team, which finished the season with a 26-1 mark, losing only at sectionals in Neenah.
SPASH coach Nancy Schmidt said the team is enthused about the prospects of having someone in the state tournament for the third consecutive year. "Going for the third straight year is kind of surreal," she said. "We were happy when we made it down the first time and then the second time was unbelievable."
Schmidt realizes the individuals and team face heavy competition from the Milwaukee area, which has produced most of the state champions in recent years. "If they go out and give their all, that's all I can ask of them," she said.
"They need to retain their focus, play within themselves and play their games," she said. "Getting down there is what you aim for. Everything you do down there is a plus."
Schmidt feels Arnold is one of the best singles players in the state. "She's going to face some of those top players. I think she'll do well. She's played some of those during tournaments. I know she'll give 100 percent."
O'Neal, Schmidt said, "has a really hard draw to open the tournament and then would face the No. 1 seed. I want her to get to that point."
To get to the state tournament, Schmidt said O'Neal "has changed so drastically. She's a shrewd little player, but she has developed some good strokes. The experience will be good for her."
Schmidt has high expectations for Davis and Benn. They're going to be capable of playing with everyone down there as long as they play their game. "They're quick, they have good placement and they just mix it up. They're not just one dimension. They've got a lot of things they can do well."
Benn moved to doubles from No. 3 singles last year and Schmidt said she's been adjusting. "She's done a great job for us. Maria will tell her what to do if there's something that needs to be done," Schmidt said.
For the State Team Tennis Tournament, SPASH will face Kenosha Tremper in the first round and then Brookfield Central, the defending state champion, in the second round.
Arnold, a junior, will play at No. 1 singles with a 24-2 record on the season going into the singles tournament.
O'Neal, a sophomore, will play at No. 2 and she has a 26-1 record going into the singles tournament.
Junior Kaylei Sorensen is the No. 3 player, with a 20-5 season record, and junior Meghan Placzek is the No. 4 player with a 19-8 season record.
Representing SPASH in doubles will be the No. 1 team of Davis and Benn; the No. 2 team of seniors Kim Effinger and Tracy Rozak, who have a 22-5 record; and the No. 3 team of sophomore Sarah Petersen and junior Christine Clawson who have a 23-5 mark.
Schmidt said she's pleased with the team's success, particularly since many of the players aren't involved in tennis all year. "They have other activities," she said. "Even if they play other sports, it's to their benefit."