TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Merrill Girls Tennis Team has been hitting the court hard, with several matches already racking up the scores for their 2024 season even before school started.
Merrill vs Rhinelander, Ashland, and Ironwood
On Friday, Aug. 23, the Lady Jays traveled to Rhinelander for an Invitational with Rhinelander, Ashland, and Ironwood.
“We started playing Rhinelander first and, as soon as we got started, we had to take a 30-minute break due to lightening in the area,” Merrill Girls Tennis Team Head Coach Elizabeth Thiel said. “After 30 minutes, we got back out on the courts, and then it started to downpour so we had to wait two and half hours before returning back to the courts to finish our match with Rhinelander.”
“After the rain delay, we played Ashland and then Ironwood. It was a very long day for the girls,” she said.
“We made a few changes this year to the lineup, where some girls who played doubles switched to singles and some singles switched to doubles,” Thiel said. “Even with the changes, the girls played hard and gave their best effort. This also gave me a good indication of what we need to improve upon in practice for matches later in the season. We ended the day with a 2 win – 1 loss record.”
Merrill vs. Wisconsin Rapids and Antigo
On Monday, Aug. 26, the girls traveled to Wisconsin Rapids for a triangular against Wisconsin Rapids and Antigo.
“The heat was brutal for the girls,” Thiel said. “My main focus was making sure the girls were hydrated enough, as well as cooling them down with cold wash clothes.”
“Despite the heat, we ended with a 1 win against Antigo and 1 loss against Wisconsin Rapids,” she said.
“The match against Wisconsin Rapids, the girls were more in auto-pilot; they didn’t get much of a break between matches, as we had to finish by 3 p.m. due to the heat per the Wisconsin Rapids athletic director.”
The Merrill Girls will play their first Conference opponent in a match against Wausau East on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 4 p.m. at Wausau East High School.