October 27, 2017 at 12:55 p.m.
Weddle repeats as girls' tennis MVP
Weddle repeats as girls' tennis MVP
For the second year in a row, Weddle was voted the Rhinelander High School girls' tennis team most valuable player. The award was presented Tuesday during the team's season-ending banquet at the Hodag Steakhouse.
Weddle, who ascended to the No. 1 spot in the Hodags' lineup following back-to-back seasons at No. 3, went 15-10 on the season, was the conference runner-up at No. 1 singles and won her lone match in the subsectional round. Weddle finished her career 81-25 overall.
"Eighty-one wins put her right up with the stars of the Rhinelander tennis. That's a great career," coach Bob Heideman said during the banquet. "Belinda held that No. 1 position for us ... I know that for Belinda, tennis has kind of been her thing. It started in fourth grade, fifth grade and she's been playing since that time."
Weddle's award was one of several handed out during the banquet. She and fellow senior Livi Roberts were recognized for being this year's captains, Kenedy Van Zile won the team's most improved award, Jackie Wells won the Ms. Hustle award, and Roberts and Haley Seefeldt won the three-setter netter award.
Van Zile, a sophomore, went 18-4 in her first season of varsity, taking a Great Northern Conference title at No. 4 singles.
"I think of Kenedy of where she was last year. She was like the third or fourth singles player on the JV. To move up to No. 4 on the varsity and go 18-4, that's a leap," Heideman said. "It was a great year for Kenedy and, for Kenedy, I know she plays basketball and plays soccer, but what I'm hoping that she got of out this season was that she is a capable tennis player and that the work she put in yielded results."
The three-setter netter award, like MVP, was a repeat. Roberts and Seefeldt, who had a penchant for playing and winning long matches, claimed the award as the team's No. 3 double tandem last year.
"That hardly ever happens. I hardly remember when someone has won that two years in a row," Heideman exclaimed. "This was perhaps the largest leap of the season, from No. 3 doubles to No. 1 doubles ... A lot of close matches and they ended up winning the most three-set matches of the year."
Wells was part of a three-way platoon at No. 3 doubles this season, though she and Savannah Chartier locked down the starting spots toward the end of the season. The two went 10-6 as a tandem. Heideman described Wells' rise to varsity level as a story of passion and determination.
"Jackie is just somebody who's just got the tennis fever," she said. "If there's anyone in this room who's thinking, 'Well, I like tennis, but I don't know how good I can become,' Jackie's just kind of a testament to the hard work, year after year, she puts in. Slowly she climbs up the ladder and now here she is on varsity."
In addition to the team awards, the Hodags handed out 14 varsity letters to its 10 starters and four players who were on the cusp of the starting lineup.
The Hodags went 15-6 in dual meets this season, but saw their run of seven consecutive Great Northern Conference championships come to an end at the hands of Antigo.
Rhinelander entered the 2017 season replacing seven starters from its rotation.
"I think there was some uncertainty, because most of them had not been through it, so you don't know exactly (what to expect). I thought, in that sense, it was a brave group and they did not shy away from the challenge," he said. "I think that's a testament to them and the hard work they put in.
"It was a fun season, a successful season and one I think that set the stage and kept the program in good stead for the next season."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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