The Waseca High School Girls’ Tennis team earned a trip to state by winning the Section 1A Championship on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Team members and coaches are (Above, front, from left) assistant coach Abbe Hoehn, Maddy Benson,Addie Pfiefer, Maddy Benson, Layla Keith, Takya Schoenrock, Vivian Mader, Lily Sanchez. (Back row) Head Coach Kyle Collins, Paige Dufault, Kennedy Lynch, Hannah Rugger, Pearl Moore, Mia Kanewischer, Ava Miller, Madi Larrabee, Grace Chawra, Assist coach Trish Mercier, Paola Sandoval.
Unforgettable experience for Waseca Tennis
Jays capture Section 1A Championship, will play in state tournament Oct. 22 and 23
Jays capture Section 1A Championship, will play in state tournament Oct. 22 and 23
Wed, 10/23/2024 - 8:08pm
The long wait is over for the Waseca High School girls' tennis team.
The Bluejays have lived up to their No. 1 seed atop the Section 1A tournament.
Waseca advanced to state for the first time since 2012 thanks to a 7-0 victory over Winona Cotter in the semifinals and 4-3 over No. 2 seed Cannon Falls last Friday at the Rochester Recreation Center.
For the first time in 30 years, a team other than Rochester Lourdes won the Section 1A championship. In 2012, the Bluejays played in Section 2A.
The Bluejays outlasted Cannon Falls in an extremely exciting final, claiming two come-from-behind wins, with the final match, No. 3 doubles, rallying from a set down to win. Layla Keith and Kennedy Lynch were at third doubles for Waseca.
The rest of the lineup on Friday included Takya Schoenrock at No. 1 singles, Vivian Mader at No. 2, Maddy Benson at No. 3, and Pearl Moore at No. 4.
The other doubles teams were comprised of Mia Kanewischer and Addie Pfeifer at No. 1, and Paige Dufault and Ava Miller at No. 2.
Waseca was coming off a late-season 5-2 victory over Cannon Falls, which also lost in last year's section final. Lourdes was eliminated in the quarterfinals this year.
The Bluejays are coached by Kyle Collins, who guided the team to second place in the state tournament in 2009, fourth in 2010, sixth in 2011 and third in 2012.
"Those were some special years," said Collins. "I hope we can make some more special memories at the state tournament this season. The state tournament is an unforgettable experience for all."
Collins thanked all of the parents and Waseca fans who made it to Rochester for the section final.
"It was a great experience for our players and fans," said Collins. "We hope to see many more of them at the state tourney on Oct. 22. I would also like to thank our assistant coaches Trish Mercier and Abbe Hoehn for their assistance."
The Bluejays, 15-4, will play in the state tournament Oct. 22 and 23 at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis. The individual state tournament is Oct. 24-25, also at Reed-Sweatt.
Other section champions included St. James Area, Montevideo, The Blake School, Providence Academy, Litchfield, Pine City and Crookston. The Class A bracket is expected this week.