GIRLS TENNIS TEAMS COMPETE FOR WIAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

THE MEET:  The 16th Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Girls Team Tennis Championships will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24. The meet takes place at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wis. Action will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday and will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday. Admission is $6 for adults and students.

THE DIVISION 1 MATCH-UPS:

Division 1 - Quarterfinals (5:30 p.m. Oct. 23)
Match-1:  Homestead (23-0) vs. Divine Savior Holy Angels (14-4)
Match-2:  Fort Atkinson (15-1) vs. Nicolet (5-2)
Match-3:  Green Bay Southwest (16-7) vs. Oshkosh West (19-0)
Match-4:  Marshfield (15-2) vs. Madison West (14-5)

Division 1 - Semifinals (9 a.m. Oct. 24)
Match-5:  Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2
Match-6:  Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4

Division 1 - Championship (2 p.m. Oct. 24)
Match-7:  Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6

THE DIVISION 2 MATCH-UPS:

Division 2 - Semifinals (9 a.m. Oct. 24)
Match-1:  Notre Dame (13-0) vs. Edgewood (10-4)
Match-2:  Altoona (14-5) vs. University School (13-6)

Division 2 - Championship (2 p.m. Oct. 24)
Match-3:  Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2

BY THE NUMBERS: There were 206 teams competing this fall in the WIAA with 134 in Division 1 and 72 in Division 2. The State Tournament field of teams is determined by team points recorded at the subsectional and sectional levels.

ON THE AIR: The State Girls Individual Tennis Tournament highlight program will air on FS Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 24, at 9 p.m. The State Team Tennis Tournament highlight package is scheduled to air at 9:30 p.m., immediately following the individual highlight program.

LAST YEAR:  Homestead captured its first State team championship. The Highlanders defeated Brookfield Central 5-2 in the championship final. The two teams split the four singles matches, and the Highlanders swept all three doubles flights to capture the crown. Notre Dame defeated four-time defending champion University School in the Division 2 championship match, 5-2. The Tritons won three of the four singles matches and added two wins in doubles play to earn their third team title.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS:  In Division 1, Nicolet has won six titles since the advent of the team championship dual format in 1994 and have won a membership-leading 17 titles. Brookfield Central has won three championships since the advent of the dual format and nine overall. Whitefish Bay has won eight titles, including four Division 2 titles.

ABOUT THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Defending champion Homestead is making its fifth tournament appearance and its second in a row. The Highlanders have also recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2002-03. Green Bay Southwest will be appearing in the tournament for the 15th time, the most of any member school since the dual-match format began. The Fighting Trojans won the Division 1 title in 1997. Nicolet is making its seventh appearance since the dual meet format was established and its first since 2000 when the Knights won their third of three straight team titles. They have been crowned team tournament champions six times (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000) and have a membership-leading 17 titles overall. Madison West qualifies for the tournament for the ninth time and for the second season in a row. The Regents best outcome in the tournament was a runner-up finish in 1997. Marshfield will appear in the tournament for the second consecutive season and for the fifth time overall. The Tigers finished runner-up in back-to-back years, 1994 and 1995. Divine Savior Holy Angels is making its third overall appearance and its first since capturing the title in 2004. The Dashers also won the title in its first appearance in 2001. Fort Atkinson and Oshkosh West are each making its first State Tournament appearance.

ABOUT THE DIVISION 2 FIELD: Defending champion Notre Dame is making its third straight appearance at State and its seventh overall. The Tritons made a string of three straight appearances from 2001-2003 that produced championships in 2002 and 2003. In addition, they finished runner-up in 2005. University School finished runner-up last year, breaking a string of four straight titles (2004-07). Therefore, the Wildcats have won championships or have finished runner-up in each of its previous appearances. Altoona is making its fourth appearance in the State Team Tournament and its third straight. In each of the previous three experiences, the Railroaders have fallen in the semifinals. Edgewood makes its third appearance in the final field of four and the first since back-to-back showings in 2003-04. The Crusaders finished runner-up in 2004.

NEED INFORMATION?:  Rosters and records of teams in the State tournament are available on the WIAA Web site at www.wiaawi.org by accessing the State Tournament page of the girls tennis homepage. Results will only be available on the Web site at http://www.wiaawi.org/index.php?id=422.