Editor’s note: The following information was posed on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) website.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater captured its 16th straight title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Tennis Championship (presented by Culver’s) at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Oct. 23.
The first-place finish is the 23rd in program history for the Warhawks, who won the crown with 21 points. UW-Eau Claire placed second with 18 points, UW-Stevens Point third with 14, UW-La Crosse fourth with 13, UW-Oshkosh fifth with nine, UW-Stout sixth with five and UW-River Falls seventh with four.
This year’s team title was determined by using a combination of the regular-season dual-meet standings and the WIAC championship results. The finish in the regular-season standings accounted for one-third of the criteria, while the conference championship accounted for the remaining two-thirds.
At the two-day league championship, UW-Whitewater compiled 62 points (14 overall championship points), while UW-Eau Claire was second with 50 points (12), UW-Stevens Point third with 42 (10), UW-La Crosse fourth with 41 (8), UW-Oshkosh fifth with 23 (6), UW-Stout sixth with 19 (4) and UW-River Falls seventh with 15 (2).
Point distribution following the dual-meet rotation consisted of: UW-Whitewater (6-0) (7 points); UW-Eau Claire (5-1) (6 points); UW-La Crosse (4-2) (5 points); UW-Stevens Point (3-3) (4 points); UW-Oshkosh (2-4) (3 points); UW-River Falls (1-5) (2 points); and UW-Stout (0-6) (1 point).
UW-Whitewater, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse advance to the team tournament that will determine the conference’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championship. UW-Whitewater will host the four-team event on April 29, 2023.
UW-Whitewater secured five singles crowns and three doubles titles at the championship. Autumn Bruno was victorious at No. 1 singles with a 6-1, 1-0 (retire) win over UW-Eau Claire’s Clare Palen, while Gianna Nikoleit claimed No. 2 singles with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over UW-Eau Claire’s Samantha Fuchs.
At No. 3 singles, Cassie Lee emerged with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over UW-La Crosse’s Katie Kearney. Kellie Ha won No. 5 singles with a 7-5, 6-3 decision over UW-La Crosse’s Kate Townsend and Bethany Marshall secured No. 6 singles with a 6-2, 7-5 win over UW-La Crosse’s Emma Heinert.
UW-Eau Claire’s Anna Lee claimed the No. 4 singles title with a 6-1, 2-6, 10-8 victory over UW-Whitewater’s Kasey Schlicht.
In doubles competition, the Warhawks’ Autumn Bruno and Cassie Lee emerged with an 8-7 (7-4) triumph over UW-Eau Claire’s Clare Palen and Samantha Fuchs. Bruno won No. 1 doubles for the second straight year.
At No. 2 doubles, UW-Whitewater’s Kasey Schlicht and Kellie Ha posted an 8-2 win over UW-Eau Claire’s Morgan Nelson and Anna Lee. The No. 3 doubles title was claimed by UW-Whitewater’s Gianna Nikoleit and Courtney Day after an 8-4 victory over UW-Eau Claire’s Morgan Dekan and Sydney Presler. Day was the No. 3 doubles champion in 2019.
UW-Whitewater’s Courtney Day received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Anna Lee; UW-La Crosse’s Emma Heinert; UW-Oshkosh’s Alysa Pattee; UW-River Falls’ Karyn Duddeck; UW-Stevens Point’s Jenna Koepp; UW-Stout’s Ellie Becker; and UW-Whitewater’s Kasey Schlicht.
