Boys tennis: Waunakee's Lipari, doubles team win tough three-setters to open state

Freshman Nevan Lipari made a strong first impression in his debut at the WIAA State Boys’ Tennis Meet. And Waunakee’s No. 1 doubles team advanced beyond the opening round, as well.

“It is hard to get to state, let alone win a round, so getting to the second round for both Nevan and Goerge/Jaxon is an accomplishment and they all should be proud of that,” said Chris Nuenthel, head coach for the Warriors.

Lipari went to three sets in his opening match at state before downing Milton’s Reid Washkoviak 7-5, 4-6, 10-6. In the next round, Lipari lost 6-1, 6-0 to Kimberly’s Aiden Meixi, the No. 5 seed. Meixi entered the state meet with a 26-3 record. Lipari finished his first varsity campaign with a 25-10 record as Waunakee’s No. 1 singles player.

Waunakee’s No. 1 doubles team of Jaxon Wipperfurth and George Zimbric also won their first round match, taking out Oregon’s Braeden Bakken and Jerry Zheng in another tight battle by a score of 7-6, 5-7, 10-8. Wipperfurth and Zimbric were dispatched in the second round by Menomonee Falls’ Ben Pomroy and Miles Seder 6-3, 6-1. Pomroy and Seder were the No. 16 seed.

Zimbric and Wipperfurth finished the season 23-7.