greenbaypressgazette
The Bay Port girls tennis team has finally shattered the glass ceiling that had kept it from the WIAA state team tournament for years. With a commanding performance at sectionals, the Pirates punched their ticket to the program's first-ever state team appearance, leaving no doubt after finishing as runners-up to Green Bay Notre Dame in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Bay Port amassed 51 points at the sectional meet, far ahead of runner-up Appleton North's 29, and claimed victories in five of the seven flights. At No. 1 singles, Alexia Stephens led the charge, while Paige Gillette (No. 3) and Mira Erdmann (No. 4) also captured sectional titles. Sophi Stephens took third at No. 2 singles. In doubles play, the No. 2 team of Evelyn Story and Lilly Jensen and the No. 3 duo of Clara Hunt and Allyson Cote both finished first. The top doubles team of Mira Matuszewski and Rheya Gala placed second to De Pere's Lillianna Graf and Maria Cristescu, who went on to win the Division 1 state doubles championship.
Now sporting a 29-1 record, Bay Port has earned the No. 4 seed at state and will meet No. 5 Eau Claire Memorial (23-3) in a Division 1 quarterfinal at 4 p.m. on Oct. 23 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison. A victory would likely set up a semifinal showdown with top-seeded Brookfield East, the two-time defending state champion and a perennial powerhouse making its third consecutive trip and 11th overall.
Key Analysis
Longtime coach Lindsay Matuszewski attributed the breakthrough to the team's depth and year-round dedication. "This is a very big deal for us," Matuszewski said. "I think [falling just short in recent years] definitely motivated them. This year, we had a lot of returners. We actually only lost one senior from our starting lineup, so a lot of the kids knew we were right there." She also noted that the players' commitment to training throughout the year, including tournaments and lessons from November through July, has been a key factor in the team's success.
The Pirates' journey to state has been marked by near misses, often due to top players opting for the USTA circuit over high school tennis. Standouts like Isabelle and Gabrielle Lee, who played one season at Bay Port before starring at USC, and Karlie Schock, a state champion as a freshman in 2023 who did not return for her final two seasons, highlight the challenges. However, this year's team has proven that depth can overcome the absence of a single dominant player. "Tennis is unique," Matuszewski said. "There are 10 players on varsity playing in seven spots, and your one singles is worth just as many points as your four singles. So, having a top player definitely helps. That's one point you can win. But at the end of the day, it's not like basketball where there is one person that can put up 30 points. It's still only one point, so for tennis, you really need depth. We have to be strong. That's what we kind of were this year."
With a robust roster of 50 to 60 players and a culture of year-round improvement, Bay Port appears poised to make this state trip more than just a one-time achievement. The momentum is clearly on their side, and the Pirates are ready to make their mark on the biggest stage.
Originally reported by greenbaypressgazette.