Waukesha West boys tennis team wins sectional, earns second straight state berth

Published on: 5/23/2013

Before last year, the Waukesha West boys tennis team only qualified for state one time.

That was in 1997. 

Now, the Wolverines are making the trip to Madison a more regular occurrence after qualifying for team state for the second straight year by dominating the Racine Horlick Sectional on Wednesday.

They won the sectional with 47 points, comfortably ahead of second-place Kenosha Tremper (35). Waukesha South finished a respectable third with 30 points. 

West was led by four individual sectional titles, two singles flights (No. 2 senior Nick Wildes and No. 3 junior Adam Fowler) and two doubles flights (No. 2 senior Nate Simon/junior Mickey Nguyen and No. 3 seniors Lars Farland/Jason Kaja). 

The Wolverines open team state with a quarterfinal matchup against Arrowhead at 5 p.m. June 7 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison. The Warhawks won the Middleton Sectional on Thursday. 

Last year, the Wolverines were swept in the quarterfinals by Eau Claire Memorial, 7-0. But with only three seniors on that squad many of the players returned to try to make another run at state.

Before team state, West will be well-represented at individual state, which takes place next week in Madison.

No. 1 singles player Derek Sallmann, Wildes, the No. 1 doubles team of Tommy Jonas/Chris Nguyen, and Mickey Nguyen/Simon all qualified for the individual tournament.

Sallmann and Jonas/Chris Nguyen punched their tickets by winning their first matches at the sectional. Sallmann finished fourth and the doubles unit took third.

Waukesha South also had an automatic qualifier for state as the No. 1 doubles team of seniors Justin Gorski/Justin Seflow won three matches at the sectional to win the title. 

South's No. 4 singles player Brett Venzke, a sophomore, won the sectional championship by beating Waukesha West junior Nick Gold.

Catholic Memorial, in Division 2, finished fourth at the Brown Deer Sectional on Wednesday.

The Crusaders were led by their freshman No. 1 singles player, Tommy Matoska, who won two matches at the sectional to finish third and earn an automatic berth into the Division 2 field. 

Joining him at state are the Mirsberger brothers. Matt, a senior, and Mike, a junior, finished second and take a 17-2 mark into the state tournament.

The duo lost to a team from the always-powerful University School of Milwaukee in the finals. 

The top four finishers at first singles and doubles automatically qualify for state, while the sectional winners at second singles and doubles earn automatic berths.

Special qualifiers to fill out the bracket will be announced on Saturday along with the times and matchups.