Milwaukee-area stars claim WIAA girls tennis state titles

Milwaukee Area Dominates WIAA Girls Tennis State Individual Championships

MADISON — For the third consecutive postseason, 75% of the WIAA girls individual state tennis titles have been claimed by players from the Milwaukee area. This trend continued as both Division 1 championships were won by local programs, while a junior in Division 2 finally broke through after three straight state appearances.

Caroline Raster, a senior from Brookfield East, followed up on back-to-back fifth-place finishes in singles and a team state title last season with her first state individual title. Her journey was one of resilience, especially during one of the toughest days of her career. Meanwhile, the top duo from Divine Savior Holy Angels, Lizzie and Amelia Stuckslager, secured their first state title as a pair in dominant fashion on October 18 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

In Division 2, Susanna Hundt from St. Joan Antida/Chesterton Academy overcame a challenging start to claim her first state title. She faced Lourdes Academy's Sasha Quandt, who had also entered the tournament undefeated. Despite losing the first set 6-4, Hundt fought back to win the second set 6-0 and eventually triumphed in a tight tiebreak 10-8.

Caroline Raster's Resilience Shines Through

Raster’s path to victory was anything but easy. She survived two of the most grueling matches of her career, starting with a thrilling morning semifinal against University School's Angela Wang. After losing the first set 6-7 (5), she managed to squeak into the final with an 11-9 tiebreak victory in the third set.

The outlook for Raster looked promising after a 6-3 win in the opening set of the title match against McKenna Thorson, the 2024 D1 state runner-up from Verona. However, she found herself down 1-5 in the second set. Despite the deficit, Raster felt more confident after trimming it to 4-5 with a strong rally.

"I always play the second set. If it's, 'I win the first set and I'm down the second set,' I play as if it's kinda like a tiebreak," Raster said. "So, I know the strategy going into the tiebreak. I started trying to stay in the point longer and kind of pushing her back and I thought, 'Oh, this is gonna work.'"

Despite falling behind 0-4 in the tiebreak, Raster made a remarkable comeback, securing the next five points before the two were locked in a dead heat. After a cross-court winner that put her ahead 10-9, Raster survived the final point and confirmed her status as a state champion with a 24-0 record.

"I am so exhausted," Raster said with a smile. "I was even exhausted between the changeovers. It felt like he'd call a timeout after two seconds. I'd sit down, take a breath and I'd be right up and ready to go again, but my legs are definitely shaky."

The Stuckslager Sisters Make History

Lizzie and Amelia Stuckslager of Divine Savior Holy Angels (DSHA) dominated the Division 1 doubles championship. This was Lizzie’s second state title, having previously won back-to-back doubles championships as a sophomore. However, this year’s victory with her younger sister, Amelia, was particularly special.

The Stuckslagers defeated the defending state champions, Sarah Neubert and Isabella Heidenberger from Arrowhead, with a score of 6-1, 6-0 in the final. They only dropped eight games in their final three matches, finishing with a perfect 16-0 record.

"It's really nice to do this again, especially since I'm with my sister," Lizzie said. "Really good, surprisingly," Amelia added with a laugh, reflecting on the dynamic of playing with her older sister.

Coach Melissa Gebhardt praised the sisters for their focus throughout the tournament. "I was just really, really, really proud of them. They were just locked in this entire tournament," she said. "It's just so fun to create a memory that they're going to have for the rest of their lives. ... I am so blessed and lucky to not have just wonderful, talented tennis players, but they're just fabulous young women and they are such good examples to everybody else on the team. I'm so lucky to have them."

Susanna Hundt's Triumph in Division 2

For Susanna Hundt of St. Joan Antida/Chesterton Academy, this was her third trip to the state tournament, and it finally paid off. After finishing sixth and third in her previous two appearances, she entered the 2024 D2 singles tournament as the top seed and unbeaten. Her path to victory was anything but easy.

Sasha Quandt from Lourdes Academy, who also entered the tournament undefeated, made it difficult for Hundt. Quandt took the first set 6-4, but Hundt came back strong, winning the second set 6-0 and forcing a tiebreak. Both players engaged in long rallies, with Hundt ultimately prevailing 10-8 in what felt like two matches in one.

"The tiebreak was basically ... whoever missed first and I ended up missing the least," Hundt said with a smile. "I think that was partly how I could get through that tiebreak," she added, reflecting on her ability to step onto the podium for the first time.

Hundt’s coach, Jeff Mrochinski, praised her perseverance and the sacrifices she made throughout the season. "What's been amazing with Susanna is most practices, she's feeding balls, giving instruction to our other kids," he said. "The fact that she's so giving in that way to the rest of the team and still able to come out and perform like that, that's just been wonderful. It makes it all worth it."

Other Notable Performers

Other standout performers included University School of Milwaukee's Angela Wang, who finished fourth in D1 singles for the fourth time in her prep career. Brookfield East freshman Natalia Martinez placed fifth in her first state appearance, while Arrowhead's Emily Muresan took sixth place.

In D1 doubles, Whitefish Bay's Clare Schaefer partnered with Charlotte Jelenchick to finish fourth. In D2, Shorewood's Misa Herriges won a tough third-place match against Big Foot's Annabelle Parker, leading the Greyhounds into the state team tournament for the first time in program history.

In D2 doubles, St. Thomas More's Grace and Hope Saller finished third, while Kenosha St. Joseph's Ava Miller and Parker Van Dusen took runner-up medals after defeating the Sallers in the semifinals.

A Day to Remember

For many of these athletes, the day was a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Whether it was breaking through for the first time or adding another title to their legacy, each player left the court with a sense of accomplishment.

As the dust settled on the tournament, the Milwaukee area once again proved its dominance in girls tennis, setting the stage for even more exciting moments in the future.