WHITEWATER, WIS. — Four members of the Central College women's tennis team competed at the ITA Division III Midwest Regional Friday after a one-year hiatus from the event.
           
There were no regional competitions in 2020 due to CoVID-19 so Central and the rest of the schools in the Midwest Region competed for the first time since 2019. The Dutch went 0-5 combined between singles and doubles.
           
"Losing is never fun, but we are definitely going to grow from today," assistant coach Trevor Budewitz said. "We saw what it takes to compete at a national level."
           
Senior Bronwyn Metcalf (Pella) took the first set in her opening singles match against Megan Karrow of Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) but was ultimately defeated 4-6, 6-1 10-6.
           
"Bronwyn fought hard to get the first set but came up short," Budewitz said.
           
Sarah Schirm (senior, Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) was downed 6-2, 6-0 by Racquel Egge of Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) and Katie Larson (senior, Fort Madison) was defeated 6-2, 6-1 by Renata Hernandez of Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) in other singles matches.
           
Metcalf and Jennifer Larson (freshman, Johnston) lost 8-2 against Egge and Jenna Forknell of Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.). Katie Larson and Schirm lost by the same margin against Mackenzie Lindow and Gianna Nikoleit of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
           
"Tough opponents like today make us stronger and it will come in handy as we finish the conference schedule," Budewitz said.
           
All of Central's entries are slated for consolation matches on Saturday.