The UW-Whitewater women’s tennis season has had a lot of transitions this season with a new head coach, new freshmen and now a shift into the second half of their season. Head coach Byron Balkin, who returned to Whitewater after being assistant coach from 2014-18, highlights how this has been an overall transition for the team.
“Whitewater is such a special place and it’s so great to be back,” Balkin said. “It’s definitely been a season of transitions for the team with me starting as head coach.”
While the team has a new head coach, it has also welcomed four freshmen.
“We’ve become so much closer since the fall and have done so much team bonding,” senior captain Megan Griswold said.
The tennis team finished second place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) over the fall period of their season. The team went 5-1, losing to UW-La Crosse in a tough match.
“Our biggest lesson from the fall was definitely from our La Crosse match, it was a tough situation but our teammates definitely built us up,” sophomore Abigail Weaver said.
(Charlie Clark)
Over winter break, the team was expected to keep up with their individual workouts and then continue to practice at their home clubs. With tennis having such a long season, going throughout most of the year, it is important for the women to not only stay consistent, but also take rest days as needed.
“I give the girls breaks and utilize off days to keep them motivated,” Balkin said. “We also have weekly team discussions to establish where the girls’ heads are and those discussions really help the team stay connected.”
As the season starts back up, the team has some big goals for the second half of the season. They are hoping to qualify for the NCAA tournament and use this indoor season to build that momentum. The team also has the Midwest Invitational in April, where they would like to finish in the top four.
“A successful season in my eyes will be every player feeling like they have a role on the team and the team as a whole maxing out every day,” Balkin said.
Beyond the results, the Warhawks are focused on continuing to strengthen their culture under Balkin’s leadership. With a mix of senior and captain leadership, as well as incoming freshmen, Whitewater is aiming to build consistency in their matches. As they head into the heart of the season, the emphasis remains on resilience built from the fall season.
“With it being such a long season, I just try to take it one match at a time,” senior Gracie Ha said. “You have to celebrate the small wins.”
The spring season is going to be a harder second half for the Warhawks. They will be facing a lot of very successful teams both in and out of conference.
The team kicked off the indoor season with a 7-0 loss against No. 1 Washington University in St. Louis. They will continue their season against Division I UW-Milwaukee March 6.
