Girls Tennis Team Presented With Season Awards

The Lady Bulldogs tennis season ended with its annual awards potluck October 18, at the high school. Head coach, Jim Dahl, presented the awards.
Senior Paige Johnson was named to the Academic All-State team. To receive this award a player must be a senior, have participated in the sport for three or more seasons, and maintained a 3.5 grade point average.

Four senior players, Johnson, Tatiana Stemsrud, Jamie DeVaal, and Sarah Jarman, received senior plaques in honor of their collective 23 years of dedication to the tennis program. “I also commend them on the various honors they earned during their high school careers,” stated Dahl.

Eighth- grader Halli Essington earned the gamer single/doubles combination award for winning 254 games this season. She also received the matchmaker singles/doubles combination award for winning 22 matches. Hattie Muellenbach was named the most improved player for the 2016 season.

Receiving a varsity letter certificate were: Sarah Jarman, Jamie DeVaal, Tatiana Stemsrud, Paige, Jodi DeVaal, and Halli Essington. Earning a junior varsity minor letter certificate were: Alexis Ninneman, Hattie Muellenbach, Bailey Frerichs, Camryn Popowski, Kaitlyn Frerichs, Rhianna Welberg, Jenna Johnson, Morgan Folk, Jessica Fenhaus, Rhianna Cantine, and Mackenzie Michels.

Coaches Abbey Trapp and Steve Stemsrud received gift certificates for their commitment to the program this year. The Milbank Area Community Tennis Association (MACTA) also recognized their service to the Milbank High School and Middle School programs and presented the duo with this year’s Friend of Tennis Award.

Coach Dahl also previewed his off-season plans. “We plan to attend indoor tennis centers in Sioux Falls and Fargo during the colder months. This summer, we plan to play one to two nights per week focusing on large group play and small group lessons for high school and middle school players.”

Award winners are: Hattie Muellenbach, Sarah Jarman, Paige Johnson, Jamie DeVaal, Tatiana Stemsrud, and Halli Essington.