West tandem has solid chemistry

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: June 2, 2016

West tandem has solid chemistry

Spartans’ duo has 13 matches under their belt

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

Daily News

Chemistry is not a problem with West Bend West’s Clay Czisny and Mitch Johnson.

There could be concern of chemistry because of lack of playing together this spring, despite qualifying for the WIAA Boys Tennis State Tournament, which begins today at Nielsen Tennis Stadium at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Sixty-four duos qualified for state in Division 1 doubles, among them is Germantown’s Justin Luo and Xander Rait. Of those 64, five played less matches together than Clay Czisny and Johnson (13).

“We have good chemistry,” Clay said.

One of those to have played less include the No. 1 seed — Brookfield East’s Patrick Krill and Doug Francken (12-0). The fewest matches played by a statequalifying Division 1 doubles team was Wauwatosa East’s Michael Lockhart and Jordan Crump (5-2).

Clay Czisny and Johnson each rotated between singles and doubles throughout the season. But most of the time in Wisconsin Little Ten Conference matches, they played singles.

“The reason I didn’t play them at doubles all the time was I wanted to get as many points in conference matches as possible,” West coach Steve Czisny said. “In doubles, they would’ve been strong all year. It would’ve cost our team a couple points.”

Even if they had played doubles all season, Steve doesn’t believe it would’ve made a difference as far as seeding at state.

When they were together, they were good. They went 11-2.

“Those two are very comparable players,” Steve said.

Clay has a strong net game and is consistent, while Johnson has a powerful stroke and serve. They are a perfect match, Steve said.

If West had more depth at its singles positions, Clay and Johnson would’ve likely played doubles all season.

“Part of me wishes we could’ve played them 20 times together,” Steve said.

But it was for the better of the team. And that was OK.

“We did get the best of both worlds,” Steve said.

Clay and Johnson’s firstround opponent is Madison LaFollette’s Kevin Dunn and Evan Loken, who went 18-6 this year. That’s nearly twice as many matches together as Clay and Johnson.

But in Johnson’s mind, who cares?

“We plan to do some damage at the tournament,” Johnson said.

Steve believes the two are playing outstanding tennis after going 2-1 at the sectional.

It is the first time at the state meet for both players. Clay is a senior and Johnson is a junior.

For Clay, getting to the sectional was an accomplishment because it was something he hadn’t done before.

He didn’t even know he and Johnson qualified for state after winning their first match at the sectional. His dad, his coach had to tell him.

Clay was surprised.

At the No. 1 flight at the sectional, singles players and doubles teams need to win the first match of the competition to qualify for state. After that, it’s about playing for the best possible seed at state.

“It was great once I realized it,” Clay joked. “I didn’t know you needed to only win one match. I wasn’t superexcited at the moment.”

He certainly was once he realized it.

“I’m super-excited,” Clay said. “It’s what I’ve worked for for the last four years.”

“I’m pretty excited,” Johnson said. “But I’m kind of nervous because I’ve never been there.”

The duo was never concerned about chemistry, even as they went back and forth throughout the season from singles to doubles.

A part of that was because they grew up a few doors down from each other.

Then at practice, they often played either against each other or with each other.

There may be a perception they lack match experience, but neither of them believe they have a problem with whatever situation presents them.

“I think we complement each other very well,” Clay said. “We helped each other a lot.”

In addition, rotating between No. 1 and No. 2 singles gave them experience of playing against good competition.

“It wasn’t a hard transition,” Johnson said.

Also at state from the county is Slinger’s JP McGuire. The Owls’ senior earned a spot at state as a special qualifier. He went 19-5 this season. Reach sports editor Nicholas Dettmann at ndettmann@conleynet.com.