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By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Just like the temperatures, Washburn women’s tennis has heated up as the season moved from winter to spring.
After a seven-match losing streak in the middle of the season, the Ichabods have bounced back with three straight victories after a 6-1 home decision over Rockhurst University on Tuesday.
Washburn coach Kirby Ronning credits the turnaround to the athletes' perseverance and refusal to give up.
“I think that they did a good job of not letting it effect them and just making the adjustments that they needed to,” Ronning said. “For our girls to get some momentum going in their third win in a row was really good.”
The windy weather did not slow Washburn down as they moved to 7-8 on the year, winning the last two matches with a combined score of 13-1.
![Doubles partners Marta Torres (left) and Svea Crohn congratulate each other during Washburn's 6-1 women's tennis win over Rockhurst Tuesday. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]](/images/2024/11/Marta_Torres_left_and_Svea_Crohn_right.JPG)
Doubles partners Marta Torres (left) and Svea Crohn congratulate each other during Washburn's 6-1 women's tennis win over Rockhurst Tuesday. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
“A lot of players put in extra work, which I think helped with confidence,” said junior Svea Crohn. “Confidence doesn’t come overnight, you have to put in the work and practice and I think everybody has been doing better at that.”
Doubles play began with a clean 6-0 sweep from sophomore Maja Jung and junior Kinsey Fields in the second position.
That was followed by a 6-1 win from freshmen Isabella Martensson and Lara Schmid at No. 1.
Crohn and sophomore Marta Torres got a 6-1 victory to finish the sweep as the Ichabods claimed the match's first point.
Washburn's Maja Jung returns a shot in Tuesday's 6-1 dual win over Rockhurst on Tuesday at Washburn. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
In singles play Torres was first to finish her No. 1 match, winning in two sets. Jung was not far behind with a two-set victory of her own, losing only four combined games along the way from the second position and putting the Ichabods up 3-0.
Crohn completed Washburn’s sweep to four points, with yet another two-set victory in the No. 3 match.
“I think I adjusted pretty well personally (to the wind),'' Crohn said. "I think it’s especially important to keep the right mindset to stay calm and just make one more ball than the opponent.''
With the match decision in hand, Martensson fell in her No. 4 match in two sets, which would be the only point the Hawks would claim in the match.
In the fifth position, Schmid was steady en route to a two-set victory of her own, winning 6-2, 6-3. Sophomore Cadence Lynn finished off the scoring for the women with another two-set victory, with the second going into a quick tiebreaker.
“I didn’t think we were playing bad during that streak, it was a streak with tough competition. I think the girls just knew that they were starting to play better, the confidence was eventually going to come,” Ronning said. “Getting one I think really fueled their confidence and then just starting to take off from there.”
The win moves Washburn to 5-2 at home, and 4-1 at the Washburn Tennis Complex outdoor courts.
“I think we all feel pretty good with having a three (match) winning streak,” Crohn said on the goals moving forward. “Just keep doing what we are doing, working on our confidence, practicing that and putting in the extra work,” Crohn said.
Next up for the Ichabods is a trip to Bolivar, Missouri to face Southern Arkansas University in a neutral-site match Saturday.
WASHBURN 6, ROCKHURST 1
Individual Results
Doubles
No. 1 – Martensson/Schmid, Washburn def. Jankowska/Limauge, Rockhurst 6-1
No. 2 – Fields/Jung, Washburn def. Dudic/Isgett, Rockhurst 6-0
No. 3 – Crohn/Torres, Washburn def. Dabbah/Lentisco, Rockhurst 6-1
Singles
No. 1 – Torres, Washburn def. Vukcevic, Rockhurst 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 – Jung, Washburn def. Limague, Rockhurst 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 – Crohn, Washburn def. Jankowska, Rockhurst 6-3, 6-1
No. 4 – Lentisco, Rockhurst def. Martensson, Washburn 6-1, 6-3
No. 5 – Schmid, Washburn def. Dudic, Rockhurst 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 – Lynn, Washburn def. Dabbah, Rockhurst 6-2, 7-6 (1)
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By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Tuesday was a windy day at the Washburn Tennis Complex for a ranked men’s match between No. 11 Washburn and No. 28 Rockhurst.
“I thought out kids did a really good job of adjusting to the conditions; it was really, really tough out there today,” said Washburn coach Kirby Ronning. “For our guys to just continue taking care of business is really positive.”
The weather was no worry for the Ichabods who claimed a 6-1 victory over the Hawks, giving Washburn three straight wins.
Six points is the most the Ichabods have picked up in a match since their 6-1 victory Feb. 26 over the University of Illinois Springfield.
Each point is vital as the team aims to get back into the top-10 of the ITA rankings.
With the win Washburn moved to 13-2 on the season as the Ichabods get set for five straight matches on the road.
Doubles action began with a win for the Ichabods from the first position, with the No. 21 ranked duo of freshman Matthew Earle and sophomore Sebastian Pjontek taking a 6-2 win.
Washburn's Santiago Rendon celebrates a point in Tuesday's 6-1 men's tennis win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Behind them sophomores Santiago Rendon and Miquel Perez picked up a spirited 6-4 win from the third position, making seven straight matches the pair has won and giving the team a 1-0 lead.
“It’s tough opponents and tough conditions, too much wind, but we managed to play and compete and that is what we are here for,” Rendon said.
Senior Raul-Alin Dicu and freshman Noah Neideck lost the No. 2 match 6-3, but the doubles point already belonged to the Ichabods as singles play began.
Freshman Tim Hammes, ranked No. 36 individually, had no trouble with his No. 3 match, winning in two sets to give WU a 2-0 team lead.
Noah Neideck (left) and Raul-Alin Dicu react to a point in Tuesday's 6-1 Washburn tennis win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Dicu, ranked No. 49 in singles, finished his No. 1 match next, needing three sets but coming away with a win to give Washburn a commanding 3-0 lead.
The only point lost in the match came in the No. 2 match with Perez falling in a 7-5 third set tiebreaker.
The Ichabods win was secured after sophomore Daniel Bird took a two-set victory, winning with scores of 6-3 and 6-1 from the fourth position. Pjontek finished his three set match from the sixth position next, winning the third set 6-4 to close it out.
“I think that’s something our guys have done a really good job of all year. They aren’t looking to the guy to their left or right, they are just taking it upon themselves to take care of business on their court,” Ronning said.
Rendon had the quickest match of singles play, but was the last to finish, as he dropped only one set-point on his way to a swift two-set victory to complete the 6-1 scoring.
“Doubles with Micky (Miquel Perez) we are really confident, we have won seven straight so we are very happy with that,” Rendon said. “In singles I lost the last match to SBU (Southwest Baptist University) so winning here today is very special for me.”
The win keeps Washburn a perfect 6-0 at home in Topeka, and 3-0 on the outdoor courts.
“A lot of these kids have been in college tennis for two, two and a half months and know what to expect in a lot of these matches, so there is not a lot of rookie lessons that they have to learn, it's just applying a lot of the stuff and they are starting to do a better job of that,” Ronning said.
The Ichabods will travel to Bolivar, Missouri to face Southern Arkansas University in a neutral-site match Saturday.
WASHBURN 6, ROCKHURST 1
Individual Results
Doubles
No. 1 – Pjontek/Earle, Washburn def. Harris/King, Rockhurst 6-2
No. 2 – Rodriguez/Keiner, Rockhurst def. Dicu/Neideck, Washburn 6-3
No. 3 – Perez/Rendon, Washburn def. Cequea/Sahagun, Rockhurst 6-4
Singles
No. 1 – Dicu, Washburn def. Keiner, Rockhurst 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
No. 2 – Rodriguez, Rockhurst def. Perez, Washburn 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5)
No. 3 – Hammes, Washburn def. Cequea, Rockhurst 6-1, 7-5
No. 4 – Pjontek, Washburn def. Sahagun, Rockhurst 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
No. 5 – Bird, Washburn def. Harris, Rockhurst 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 – Rendon, Washburn def. King, Rockhurst 6-0, 6-1
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Playing for Washburn Rural for the first time since 2019, senior singles standout Mason Thieu turned in a dominating perormance Tuesday as the Junior Blues opened their season with a big day in Rura's Too Big Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center.
Thieu, who was a state placer as a freshman for Rural before competing out of state, went 3-0 on the day without dropping a game, winning the No. 1 singles championship. Thieu topped junior teammate Mason Casebeer 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu makes a return in Tuesday's Too Big Invitational. Thieu won the No. 1 singles title without dropping a game. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural seniors Jiyoon Park and Zach Willingham captured the No. 1 doubles title, taking an 8-2 win over Olathe East in the championship match.
Washburn Rural seniors Jiyoon Park (left) and Zach Willingham won the No. 1 doubles championship in Tursday's season-opening Too Big Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Team scores weren't kept Tuesday, but the Junior Blues also won the No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles titles as Washburn Rural won four out of five divisions.
Justin Kruse ws the runner-up in the No. 2 singles division to pace Seaman
TOO BIG INVITATIONAL
Individual results
Singles
No. 1 -- Championship: Thieu, Washburn Rural def. Casebeer, Washburn Rural, 6-0. Third: Magee, Topeka West, def. Wise, Gardner-Edgerton, 6-1, 6-1.
No. 2 -- Championship: Parrin, Salina Sacred Heart, def. Kruse, Seaman, 8-5. Third: Luetje, Washburn Rural, def. Prettejohn, Olathe East, 8-5.
No. 3 -- Championship: Nelson, Washburn Rural, def. Rundel, Washburn Rural, 8-2. Third: Wagnon, Seaman, def. Williams, Washburn Rural, 8-3.
Doubles
No. 1 -- Championship: Park/Willingham, Washburn Rural, def. Hanou/Blasi, Olathe East, 8-2. Third: Lorenzo/Matthews, Junction City, def. Byerly/Natarjan, Manhattan, 8-4.
No. 2 -- Championship: Labatos/Dodge, Washburn Rural, def. Arnold/Spiegel, Manhattan, 8-3. Third: Forssberg/LeBar, De Soto, def. Engel/Rutledge, Topeka West, 8-7, 7-5.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural athletic and activities director Penny Lane received the 2022 National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association State Award of Merit last Saturday during the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association state conference.
Washburn Rural athletics/activities director Penny Lane has received the NIAAA State Award of Merit. [Twitter]
This annual award is provided by the NIAAA to an athletic administrator from each state for recognition of meritorious dedication to high school and middle school athletics.
Within the KIAAA Lane served as second vice-president from 2017 to 2018, first vice-president from 2018 to 2019 and president from 2019 to 2020.
Lane is a 16-year member of the NIAAA as well as a 16-year veteran in athletic administration.
Lane has guided Washburn Rural athletic and activites programs that have been among the most successful in the state.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's Kevin Hedberg is one of the state's best known and most successful high school tennis coaches.
But the 43-year teaching and coaching veteran formally informed Washburn Rural's administrators on Monday that he is retiring at the end of the current school year.
"The classroom was fine, the kids were absolutely fantastic and treated me with a lot of respect and did what I asked -- teaching and tennis -- but it just seemed like time,'' Hedberg said. "For whatever reason, it just felt like time.''
Longtime Washburn Rural tennis coach Kevin Hedberg (left) jokes with a Junior Blues player during Monday's practice at Topeka Country Club while Rural senior Nick Luetje looks on. Hedberg will retire at the end of the current school year. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hedberg turned 70 in February and said that landmark birthday got him thinking more about retirement.
"I started thinking about it a little bit about three months ago, honestly,'' Hedberg said. "When I turned 70, it was kind of a weird thing. You start thinking, 'Wow, when I was kid 70 was ancient, and I'm there.' ''
Hedberg is in his 32nd year at Washburn Rural after spending 11 years at Seaman.
Hedberg has coached five state championship teams at Rural (four boys and one girls), as well as singles and doubles champions in both boys and girls tennis and a long list of city and Centennial League title teams.
Hedberg, a former Division I college tennis player at South Florida, knows it will be hard to step away from teaching and coaching, but said it will be nice to be able to pursue other interests in retirement.
"'I'm driving down 61st Street towards Auburn Road the other day and I got to this one road and I thought, 'I've taught here 32 years and I've never driven down this road,' so I just drove down that road,'' said Hedberg, a member of the Topeka Tennis Association Hall of Fame. "The have-tos of your life just take over and you don't have time do do a lot of that stuff. Now I can do that.
"There's always going to be things at every job you don't like but the hardest thing about it for me will be walking away from the kids because I honestly think the kids have kind of kept me young. Ending that association with them is going to be hard but I've got to fill that void and I will. I'll figure something out to keep my spirits up that way.''
Hedberg's boys team will open the 2022 season on Tuesday in Rural's Too Big Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center and Hedberg said he's looking forward to the season.
"This is a great bunch of boys and they're just fun to be around and they have fun playing tennis,'' he said. "They're great as a group.''
Veteran Topeka West coach Kurt Davids said he has a great deal of respect for Hedberg and said he will definitely be missed.
"When I came here in 1993 it was easy to hold a grudge against Rural because of their success, but as time went on and I got to know not just Kevin but the rest of coaches in town and the league, you realize that everybody cares for each other and everybody wants everybody to be successful against everybody but themselves,'' Davids said. "Kevin was always a good example of that -- good advice, understood what we had to do and how we were trying to do things.
"I consider him a very dear friend now more so than a mortal enemy. He wants us to be successful, we want them to be successfu, up until the time they play us.''
