Neenah High School’s boys tennis team finished as state runner-up for the second straight year and third time in five years at the WIAA state team tournament over the weekend in Madison.
All three of the Rockets’ recent runner-up finishes have come in losses to Milwaukee Marquette, which has won 10 of the last 11 state championships. This year’s match was a 5-2 decision that included four three-set matches. Jackson Atassi at No. 1 singles and Brett Bureau at No. 4 singles were individual winners in the state championship match.
The Rockets reached the state final with a 6-1 quarterfinal win over Arrowhead and a 5-2 semifinal victory over Eau Claire Memorial. Atassi and Bureau each finished the tournament with perfect 3-0 records.
Other team members who participated at the state team tournament were Jared Lawatsch, Evan Kubiak, Grant Mauthe, Carter Brown, Kyler Kappes, Graham Werner, Grayson Asbury and Jackson Fieldhack. Mauthe and Brown combined to place third in doubles at the state individual championships on June 3.
The runner-up finish was the 11th all-time for the Rockets, who have also won 10 state championships. Coach Tom Berven has coached five of the state championships and seven runner-up finishes in his 47 seasons as head coach.
Neenah’s girls tennis team also placed runner-up this past fall and has participated in the past three state championship matches.
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