Luetschwager defends state singles title

MADISON - For the second straight year at the conclusion of the WIAA Division 1 state individual girls tennis tournament an impromptu party was held at the home of Jean and Mark Luetschwager on a Saturday night in October.

And for good reason because there has been a lot to celebrate with their daughter Emily Luetschwager, who has made central Wisconsin tennis history each of the last two high school seasons.

A year after the Stevens Point Area Senior High athlete became the first individual to win a Division 1 state tennis championship, Luetschwager capped off her prep career in style with a second consecutive state crown at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

With the final points in her dominating 6-0, 6-1 victory over Bay Port freshman Isabelle Lee in the state championship match winding down, Luetschwager did everything possible to stay in the moment and not think about the magnitude of her considerable accomplishment.

"I try not to (think about what winning the state championship match means), but the thought kind of creeps in your head even though you know you need to take it one point at a time," Luetschwager said. "You still need to go out and finish the match.

"(A two-time state champion) is definitely a great title to have. I definitely couldn't ask for any better way to end my career."

No individual from central Wisconsin had ever won a Division 1 state title, let alone two.

Luetschwager, who capped off a 35-0 season, left no doubt who was the top Division 1 tennis player in the state. She won he final 70 matches of her career, with 69 of those coming in straight sets.

SPASH coach Gary Baier had the best seat throughout her back-to-back state championship runs.

"Yeah, it's really cool and it's something that has never been done by a (Division 1) boy or girl in this part of the state, and to have done it twice is crazy," Baier said. "This year there was a really talented pool of players in the state tournament, so it was not an easy task. It's really amazing."

Lee (33-3) had the misfortune of running into a defending state champion who refused to settle for anything less than a second state championship.

The outcome was never in doubt. Luetschwager never let Lee gain any sort of a footing in the match and cruised from start to finish to ensure her spot atop the podium yet again.

"I started out the match really well and probably played one of the best matches I've ever played," Luetschwager said. "(Lee's) game sits well with my style of play. She was missing shots and I kept building on that. Since she was a freshman I could see she was getting frustrated because I was not missing many shots."

Luetschwager nearly missed out on a spot in the state title match.

She received her only scare of the season from fourth-seeded Emma Corwin of Brookfield East in the semifinals Saturday morning.

Good friends off the court and future Colorado State tennis players, Corwin managed to do something against Luetschwager no one else has over the past two seasons — win a set.

"I was actually a little nervous going into the third set," Baier said. "Emma had (Emily) on her heels and playing a little more defensive than usual. After the first two games of the third set it all changed and Emily really reversed course in the match."

Unfazed by being pushed to a third set, Luetschwager never got rattled and eventually prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Corwin (24-5) went on to finish third.

Luetschwager went on to prove she was the best girls singles player in the state two years running.

"There was never really ever a panic," said Luetschwager of the semifinal stress. "I was just like, 'If she can keep this up, she's going win the match and there is nothing I can do about that.' I think I got a little better and she fell off.

"The first (state championship) was really exciting last year because that was always a goal of mine. Coming back to win again and end my senior season so strong is also a great experience...

"Yeah, I really couldn't ask for a better way to end my career."

Division 2

Newman Catholic's Laura Larrain endured a tough day at Nielsen Stadium on Saturday.

Larrain, who was seeded third, suffered a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) loss to second-seeded Riley Strauss of University School of Milwaukee in the state semifinals. The Cardinals' junior then faced Edgewood Sacred Heart senior and No. 5 seed Emma Sango in the third place match and dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to wind up fourth.

Larrain concluded her season with a 21-3 record.

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282, or by email at ssswilliam@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill