The Girls Tennis team continues with a record-breaking season, becoming the first team to qualify for the WIAA Team State Tournament in the history of Shorewood Girls Tennis. Additionally, Seniors Míša Herriges and Milja Aguirre, #1 singles and #2 singles respectively, qualified for the Individual State Tournament.
“It feels really freaking good to make State,” said Jesse Perez, assistant coach. “I just could not be more proud.”
Although they had put in the effort over the course of the season and stayed motivated, the team making it to State was not something that seemed entirely realistic.
“Making it was really unexpected, because I knew we had a shot if we beat Brookfield Academy, who won state last year, [who] we did end up beating, but then at sectionals we didn’t do as well against them,” said Esme Kleban, senior. “So I guess our whole team kind of assumed we weren’t going.”
Given this, the team’s reaction to finding out they won sectionals, which qualified them for State, was filled with surprise, creating a moment many described as their favorite moment of the entire season.
“Us coaches, we knew we’d won the sectional championship when the players didn’t know, so we were going to wait till after our final match [to tell them],” Perez said. “But then one of the Brookfield Academy girls was like, congratulations on making Team State, and then [the team] just started screaming.”
Perez attributed the success of the season to the team energy and attitudes of the girls.
“Our team is so much of a family,” Perez said. “We’re just so tight and the energy is always so positive.”
Kleban also noted the coaching staff as a strong aspect of the season, their diversity being fundamental to player development.
“We have a really wide range of coaching staff this year, each one offer[ing] a certain approach,” Kleban said. “It’s nice having different perspectives, and [having] certain coaches that specialize with you and know you really well as a player.”
Despite major wins, the team still faced mental challenges while making it through to the post-season.
“It’s because as a player, it’s really hard to actually believe, and sometimes like we gain that doubt when we make mistakes, when we struggle,” Perez said. “It’s our job as coaches to see that potential in you and try to draw that out. But now, I think our players really do believe that they can win at all.”
These mental challenges were only amplified as the team went on to play more skilled opponents.
“When we play people that we know are really good, we just have to stay confident,” Herriges said. “That’s been the really big thing for us, to just keep our energy up and really do well with giving that positive energy to each other.”
As State became a reality for the girls and not just a dream, many of them laid out their goals and expectations for the tournament.
“Personally, I want to get to the third round, so I would be staying for all three days. I just want to be there as long as possible and soak it all in,” Herriges said. “For Team State, I think we really have a huge chance, so I just hope that we all believe in ourselves and support each other on the court.”
Even though winning State is an aspiration of the team, Coach Perez noted how he would be proud of the team and the success they had over the season
“Regardless of how we do in the state tournament, I know that this team really came together and made history for Shorewood,” Perez said. “Man, when we won conference, and then winning the sectional championship, that’s got to be like the highlight of my coaching career so far.”