EAU CLAIRE – Tennis wasn’t exactly a lifelong pursuit for several members of the Chi Hi Boys tennis team.
But those athletes who are finding fulfillment in their first varsity-level take-off this spring.
Juniors Jack Hediger and Aiden Wickland and sophomore Eric Andreo are the only members of the 12-man team set to compete for the Cardinals in 2022. The rest are newcomers, both to the team and to the sport in general at a competitive level.
That makes for a sharp learning curve, but one that’s paved with work ethic and a passion for improvement.
“You are definitely athletic. They are ready to make an effort,” said Chi-Hi trainer Stephanie Linzmeier about the newcomers. “They are very eager to learn. They get along really well, which is nice, and they’re just excited to try something new.”
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Senior Esubalev Mason is playing tennis for the first time after spending his falls on the football team and winters in the pool with the swim team. What is Mason’s experience with the sport? He took lessons when he was eight, but not much else. But he and another rookie, Colby Stoll, wanted to try something they knew tennis would be a fun sport to compete in. These two are Chi-Hi’s best doubles team this year.
Junior Gubgnit Mason joins Stoll and senior Laye Diallo on the soccer team in the fall and tries his hand at tennis for the first time this spring.
“I think a lot of this is pretty new, but agility for football, being able to move probably helps a little bit in tennis,” Gubgnit Mason said.
The Cardinals fell in a Big Rivers dual Monday afternoon in Eau Claire North. Mason and Stoll were eliminated 0-6, 2-6 in their matchup in doubles No. 1, while the No. 2 team of Hediger and Gubgnit defeated Mason 1-6, 0-6.
Hediger is a rare perennial varsity player for the Cardinals and said having a good time has been the team’s main goal so far.
“You just come out to have fun,” Hediger said. “At this point, mid-season, we still have conferences and then sectionals coming up, so we’re just going to do what we can – practice outside of school and outside of the coach. It should be fun.”
With so many players trying to figure out what works on the tennis court, some bumps were to be expected. But Linzmeier said the team has dealt with everything that has come their way – whether it be the challenging weather that has forced the postponement and cancellation of many meetings or the challenging competition that the Big Rivers offer.
“They work hard every day and play with the weather. They’re happy to be here, they’re a good group of kids,” said Linzmeier. “We’ve had a lot of good compliments from other teams as far as sportsmanship or good potential is concerned, knowing we’re a younger team. ”
Diallo and sophomore Avery Sye lost 6-0, 6-1 in their matchup in No. 3 doubles.
Jackson Blake holds first place in singles for the Cardinals and is another first player this spring to spend his winters in the pool. He lost Eau Claire North’s Logan Carroll 6-2, 6-1 while Wickland lost their second singles matchup 6-0, 6-0. Andreo was defeated 0-6, 1-6 at the No. 3 singles and freshman Eli Moe fell 2-6, 2-6 at the No. 4 singles.
Runner-up Josh Lange and freshman Robert Mercier have teamed up for the team’s junior varsity No. 4 doubles team to round out the roster. With only two seniors on the team (Esubalew Mason and Diallo), the improvement shown could help the team not only for the remainder of the season but well into the future.
“I think it will just be better than at the beginning,” said Stoll. “Not necessarily winning, but doing better in the games than before, especially when we were better at the start of our first few games.”
Continued colder weather has pushed back the Chi-Hi schedule, with Monday’s meeting being the first of four this week. After Tuesday’s home game against Eau Claire Memorial, the Cardinals host Menomonie and Osceola on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Next week there will be road matchups in River Falls (May 9th) and Altoona (May 11th) before Amery’s guest on May 12th. This year’s Big Rivers Conference tournament will be held again on May 16th in Eau Claire North. So much action means plenty of opportunities to play, but also to continue bonding and also includes after-play trips to Kwik Trip to stock up on their favorite snacks.
“I feel like we get along well and that’s the biggest part of our team,” said Hediger. “It is fun. It makes a lot of fun.”
For a Chi Hi boys tennis team that has struggled with player totals in recent years, getting the numbers back up is important. But it’s also fun – something that has seen athletes join the team since the start of the season.
“I think because coaching is so much more beyond wins and losses, knowing that this is just a really good group of guys and it restores your faith in humanity a little bit because they’re kind, they have big hearts , they’re polite and respectful – which isn’t something you often hear or think in today’s high school society, so it’s really nice to see that this is a really good group of kids,” said Linzmeier.
IN PHOTOS: Chi-Hi Boys Tennis plays 5-1-23 at Eau Claire North
Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Jackson Blake
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Jackson Blake
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Jackson Blake
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Jack Hediger
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Jack Hediger
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Gubgnite Mason
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Gubgnite Mason
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Gubgnite Mason
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Eric Andre
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Eric Andre
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Eric Andre
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Avery Sye
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Laye Diallo
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Laye Diallo
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Avery Sye
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Eli Moe
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Eli Moe
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Eli Moe
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Aiden Wickland
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Aiden Wickland
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Aiden Wickland
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Aiden Wickland
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Colby Stoll
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Colby Stoll
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
The doubles team Chi-Hi No. 1 consisting of Subie Mason (foreground) and Colby Stoll (background) waits for a return shot during a matchup against Eau Claire North Monday afternoon in Eau Claire.
BRANDON BERG, Chippewa Herald
Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Colby Stoll
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Chi-Hi boys tennis at Eau Claire North 5-1-23
Subi Mason
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