Sports
Tennis smashing adversity
The Pointer
Hshee298@uwsp.edu
There is more to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women’s tennis team than meets the eye. Externally it is clear that the team is improving and in for a good season, having lost none of its players from the year before.
Underneath these facts lies the heart of a team so dedicated to their sport that they stay committed even when they don’t have all the resources most competitors would consider essential.
So far the team has won five games and lost only two. These losses are not due to an “off” day, however. An offseason training regimen replete with weight room instruction was compiled by UWSP’s strength and conditioning coach, John Verdegan, to ensure an “off” day was never part of the equation.
Much larger obstacles were in the way. To begin, the matchup against Grinnell College took place without two key players. Freshman Leah Benn was out due to a knee injury and senior Kaitlyn King could only play in a doubles post because she strained a muscle in her rib cage after having bronchitis. King’s strain made the cardiovascular demand of a singles match too difficult but she did pull out a win in her doubles match that day with her partner, senior Emily Riordan.
“Grinnell was just good all around competition,” said women’s head coach Karlyn Jakusz, “It was also 88 degrees and the second match of the day. Grinnell had rest time between their matches and we had none.”
But Jakusz, along with her team, believes they are resilient and know that this season will be a good one. The wins outweigh the losses this season right now, and are a clear indication of the potential of the team moving forward.
This potential is especially impressive when the team’s biggest piece of adversity is examined. UWSP’s tennis facilities are not up to par, which makes it hard for their team to complete their training with the high standards they set.
“We’re struggling and looking for student support. We need new courts because it is a liability to play on the courts near the Debot fields and sharing courts with the local high schools is hard to schedule,” Jakusz said.
Most schools in the NCAA have the necessary six courts to hold competitions but according to Jakusz, there are barely enough at UWSP to even practice on.
The next game is on September 17 at Lawrence University. Appleton is one of the nearest locations of competition for the girls and they would love for some fans to come out and cheer and to show their support for UWSP tennis!
