Pulaski’s Diefenthaler, Krause enjoy state tennis experience

The Pulaski High School girls tennis No. 1 doubles team of Madeline Diefenthaler and Ruth Krause dropped their lone match at state, but enjoyed the experience and now have memories that will last a lifetime.

The Red Raider duo lost 6-2, 6-0 to Greendale’s Natasa Pupovac and Katarina Zrnic on Oct. 13 at Nielsen Stadium in Madison.

“The match at state truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me,” said Diefenthaler, a senior. “Ruth and I both tried to just let it all sink in. The minute you walk in, there’s a bunch of people and courts. It’s pretty intimidating when you first look at it.

“We tried to get over our anxiety fast and do our best to adapt quickly. Ruth and I competed very well. We put our all into the match and had fun playing. Every game in the match was close, it was a shame that we made just a couple more errors than the other side. We still had an amazing experience together though and it was an incredible way to end our season together.”

Krause echoed similar thoughts after seeing her freshman season wrap up at state.

“The match was definitely overwhelming for many reasons. However, once Maddy and I walked through the gate to the courts, all my nerves went away,” said Krause. “The Nielsen (Stadium) in Madison was a great atmosphere to experience as a freshman. Both Maddy and I played our best, even when things weren’t going so well. Overall, I had fun playing with Maddy and having our families and coaches cheer us on.”

Diefenthaler said that the Pulaski duo faced off against their coaches to prepare for state, playing both indoors and outdoors.

“Getting to play against our coaches was a really fun competition and experience,” Diefenthaler said. “One day we would win, and the next they would. Back and forth we were all fighting for bragging rights before state.”

Krause said the lead-up to state was a bit intimidating because “we didn’t know what to expect and the level on play that we would have to take on.”

The freshman added that while practice got tough, the duo got through things by knowing they belonged at state.

“Then actually playing at state was amazing and breathtaking,” said Krause. “You have so much riding on one match or one point that you freak out. But you realize having fun and staying positive out rules the loss.”

The No. 1 doubles team capped the season with a 15-10 record.

The senior, freshman pairing was a unique one, but one that worked out. It did leave the two players with different mindsets after wrapping up state, as one high school career is over and the other just getting started.

“Getting to go to state this year meant the world to me,” said Diefenthaler. “It truly was an unbelievable experience. It was a great start to the end of my senior year. After all of my hard work since I was little, it really meant a lot to show that it really did pay off.”

“After playing at state as a freshman, I have become stronger as a person and a player,” said Krause. “This experience will definitely help later on in my tennis career. I will never forget the nerves leading up to this moment and them all floating away when I served the ball.”

Full state results can be found at www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Fall/Girls-Tennis/Tournament.

sports@newmedia-wi.com