stillwatergazette . com Stillwater Ponies Fall Sports Preview • Friday , September 6 , 2024 Page 3
GIRLS TENNIS Seasoned singles lineup raises optimism for Ponies
Head coach — Dave Kahl ( 19th year ). Assistant coaches — Jay Knutson and Tom Boulay . Last season — 16-4 ( 7-2 SEC , 3rd place ).
2024 captains — Taylor Erickson , Karina Fischer , Jazzy Kruse and Gretchen Wenner .
Who ’ s gone — It was an experienced lineup that helped lead the Stillwater girls tennis team to a third-place finish in the conference standings and a trip to the section semifinals . Doubles was hit especially hard as the Ponies will miss Morgan Perkins and Haley Swanson at the first spot , along with Sarah Dollerschell , Grace Cichon , Ali Weaver , Lydie Laudet , Belle Lapos and Kylie Jackels .
Who ’ s back — The Ponies boast a strong singles lineup with returning players Karina Fischer , Taylor Erickson and Jazzy Kruse , along with fellow contributors Olivia McLaughlin and Gretchen Wenner .
Others — There is plenty of depth and competition among the returning players and the new faces expected to contribute in the lineup .
Seniors Brynne Klancher , Mishka Grizzard , Isabela Kahl , Camille Wilk and Anabel Gonnion , juniors Anna Dahlin , Adriana Francis , Lydia White and Madeline Millner , sophomore Haley Solnitzky and freshmen Emerson Donnohue and Sienna Granquist are among competing for spots .
Conference — Mounds View has won six consecutive Suburban East Conference championships and 18 overall since 2001 . The Mustangs should be strong again . The battle could be for second place with Roseville , Forest Lake , White Bear Lake and East Ridge .
The Ponies , whose only conference losses a year ago came against Mounds View and Roseville , would like to join that mix . “ Mounds View will be the favorite ,” Ponies coach Dave Kahl
Seniors for the Stillwater girls tennis team include , front row , from left , Ella Kissinger , Isabel Kahl , Hailey Mishka Grizzard and Gretchen Wenner . Second row , Camille Wilk , Anabel Gonnion , Brynne Klancher and Karina Fischer .
said . “ I feel we will likely be in a group that will be right behind .”
Section — The Ponies lost to Roseville 4-3 in the Section 4AA semifinals a year ago and Mounds View defeated the Raiders to earn its sixth straight section championship . The Mustangs are once again consider the team to beat , with anticipated challenges to come from Mahtomedi and Centennial , along with SEC foes Stillwater , Roseville and White Bear Lake .
Mounds View has advanced to the state tournament 21 times since 1992 , finishing as the state runner-up on six occasions during that span .
Outlook — It ’ s a strong lineup with experience in singles led by Fischer , Erickson and Kruse , who helped lead the way to 16 victories a year ago . Fischer placed fourth in the Section 4AA individual singles tournament . It ’ s slightly less settled in doubles , but there ’ s good potential there as well .
“ We graduated a lot of talented players last year , and really most of the doubles rotation , so having the skilled players we do at the top of the singles lineup is a great building point ,” Kahl said . “ We expect lots of fun and great growth this year .
“ Mounds View will be the favorite in the section and the conference again this year , but I believe we can be in the conversation for the next place in line . We need to find doubles combinations that really mesh and grow in confidence so that they can play smartly and aggressively .”
Quotable — “ The girls have had a great hard-working attitude and have been a lot of fun to work with so far ,” Kahl said . “ We have some really great kids on and off the court .”
Notable — The Stillwater girls have qualified for the state meet five times , with their most recent appearance coming in 2012 when they placed fifth . The Ponies also qualified for state in 1995 , 1998 , 2000 and 2007 . Stillwater was the state runnerup in 1998 and also placed fifth in 2000 . The Ponies have been represented at the individual state tournament in singles or doubles seven times in the past 17 years .
• Ponies coach Dave Kahl is a White Bear Lake graduate who helped the Bears to a state runner-up finish as a sophomore back in 1985 . Kahl went on to
See Tennis , Page 4
2024 Stillwater Ponies Fall Sports Preview
Contents Girls tennis .......................... 3 Girls swimming / diving ........ 6 Boys soccer ....................... 10 Girls soccer ....................... 13 Volleyball .......................... 16 Girls cross-country ............ 18 Boys cross-country ........... 20 Stillwater state titles ......... 22
Cover design by : Lisa Smith Photos by : Stuart Groskreutz Stories by : Stuart Groskreutz