Weddle 3rd in No. 3 singles

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The Rhinelander High School girls tennis team wrapped up its season Tuesday when the Hodags placed eighth out of 16 teams with 11 points at the Division 1 Sectional at Stevens Point.

RHS’s two Sectional qualifiers, senior Ivy Packard in No. 1 singles and junior Belinda Weddle in No. 3 singles, both lost opening-round matches.

Packard, who ended the season with a match record of 17-8, was knocked out of the tournament after losing in straight sets to New Richmond’s Greta Bakke, 6-1, 6-2.

“Ivy took the lead, 2-1, in the second set, but (Bakke) responded with her own run that put the match out of reach,” said Hodags head coach Bob Heideman. “Ivy has had a stellar four-year run for the Hodags. She should be very proud of her accomplishments.”

Weddle, who ended up with 26 match victories on the season, lost her first Sectional match to Isy Thapar of Eau Claire Memorial, 6-0,6-1, before picking up a straight-set win over River Falls’ Gina Filkins, 6-2, 6-2, for third place.

“While taking third Belinda ends her season with a win, which only a very few tennis players get to do,” Heideman said. “We have not had a 26-win season since 2010. We’ll give (her) a little while to rest on her laurels, but then she will begin to take the reins of next year’s team.”