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Bouncing back at state
After semifinal loss, Trojan girls take bronze at state tennis
Andy Krutsinger
Jun. 7, 2021 6:51 am
ANKENY — For the first time in school history, the Fairfield girls tennis team played in the Final Four, and for the first time in school history, they picked up a win for their troubles.
The Trojans went 1-1 on Saturday at the Class 1A state meet, falling 5-2 to Columbus Catholic in the semifinals before upending Spirit Lake-Okoboji 5-1 in the third place game.
“I was very proud of them,” said Trojan head coach Heidi Grunwald. “I'm glad the seniors got this, and I'm glad Tess (Paton) and Sydney (Wells) got this, too.”
Second-seeded Fairfield had to bounce back after losing its first match of the year against No. 2 seed Columbus Catholic. The Sailors won four of the six singles matches to take a 4-2 lead into doubles, and swept the No. 3 doubles match 6-1, 6-1 against Fairfield’s Lauren Kraemer and Olivia Jones to clinch the match.
Although the Trojans lost the semifinal, they won the marquee match of the day. No. 1 singles player and 2019 state champion Yana Gaskell knocked off Columbus’ Sasha Hyacinth 2-6, 6-0, 10-2 just two days after Hyacinth won the 2021 state singles title in Waterloo.
“I kind of wanted to prove myself,” Gaskell said. “I came out a little nervous and didn't play too well, but I got my game together.”
The Trojans won the top two matches against Columbus Catholic. Paton took the No. 2 match 2-6, 6-3, 10-2 to give Fairfield two wins via tiebreaker.
“ I was definitely tired, because the state singles tournament wiped me out,” Paton said. "I was really excited to be here with my team and have a different experience."
Nellie Higdon nearly made it three in the No. 3 match, but fell 6-3, 2-6, 10-7.
In other semifinals singles action, Abby Schaefer dropped the No. 4 match 6-0, 6-1. Kraemer fell 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 5 match, and Jones lost 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 6 match.
Fairfield rebounded quickly and decisively, as the Trojans got back to their winning ways and defended their third seed against No. 4 Spirit Lake-Okoboji.
Gaskell and Paton cruised to victory in the No. 1 and No. 2 games, both winning in straight sets. Gaskell won 6-0, 6-0 and Paton was victorious 6-1, 6-1. Kraemer lost the No. 5 match 6-1, 6-1 to make it 2-1 Trojans after three completed.
The next three Fairfield points were a battle. Jones, Schaefer and Higdon each had to scrap to the end, fighting with hot temperatures and humidity all the whole way through.
Jones was the first of the three finished. She won her match 6-3, 6-2, and she says it took everything she had to finish off the second.
“I knew that I literally had nothing left in me after it was 5-2,” Jones said. “I was like, 'I have to finish. I can't deal with a tiebreaker right now.'”
The other two weren’t lucky enough to get out in two. Schaefer won the first set 6-0 and lost the second 6-1, and Higdon lost the first 6-2 and won the second 7-6. The two played 10-point tiebreakers within minutes of each other.
Schaefer bounced back after a second set loss to win her tiebreaker, winning a thrilling tiebreaker set 10-6.
“ I really hard to dig deep in that tiebreaker,” Schaefer said. “I just gave it my all, and I went for every ball.”
At that point, it was all up to Higdon, who needed to complete her comeback to avoid the match going into doubles. With the Fairfield cheering section watching, she picked up the fourth Trojan tiebreaker win of the day, winning 10-3.
“The real deal is I didn't want to go into doubles, so that's why I won,” Higdon said. “I was exhausted.”
Fairfield ended its season 16-1. Along with the bronze at state, the Trojans added a Southeast Conference title earlier in the year, a second-place doubles finish for Gaskell and Higdon and a third place singles finish for Paton.
It was the curtain call for five Trojan seniors; Gaskell, Higdon, Schaefer, Kraemer and Jones. Paton is just a junior, and Wells, who played in the varsity six for the entire regular season, is a sophomore.
“It's amazing to play with such a great team and such great people,” Kraemer said. “It's really an awesome experience.”
The 2021 Fairfield girls tennis team poses with their third-place medals. Pictured left to right: Head coach Heidi Grunwald, Tess Paton, Abby Schaefer, Lauren Kraemer, Olivia Jones, Yana Gaskell, Nellie Higdon and Sydney Wells. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Lauren Kraemer sets to backhand a ball during the 2021 Class 1A state tennis tournament on Saturday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Yana Gaskell returns a ball during the 2021 Class 1A state tournament on Saturday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield junior Tess Paton watches a ball come toward her racket on Saturday at Prairie Ridge Sports Complex in Ankeny. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Olivia Jones returns a ball during the state team tennis tournament on Saturday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Abby Schaefer steps up to return a ball during a singles match in Saturday’s Class 1A state tennis tournament. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Nellie Higdon sends a ball over the net during the 2021 Class 1A state tennis tournament on Saturday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)