History of Girls Tennis at Marshfield High School
Marshfield didn't field their first girls' tennis team until 1964, but
that didn't stop two of the Pirates' all-time greatest female tennis stars
from competing as individuals. From 1952-55, Jackie Ford practiced and
competed on the boys' team while able to compete against other girls at
the State Tournament. From 1960-63, Marilyn Haliski excelled during the
regular season and at the State Tournament as Marshfield's only female.
In 1964, Coach Jan Rust decided the time had come to organize a
girls' team. The team's first State Tournament competitor didn't come
until 1965 when freshman Mary Paczesniak finished 2nd in singles at the
District Tournament, thus earning the right to represent the Pirates at
State.
By 1967, tennis had taken it's grip on a number of Marshfield ladies
who practiced diligently long after their regular practice hours were
over. The extended practice sessions paid off as the Pirates took 1st
place in singles (Mary Paczesniak) and 1st (Janie Chiene and Peggy Eddy),
2nd (twins Anne and Angie Guenther), and 3rd (Carol Hanson and Kathy
Krummel) place in doubles at the District Tournament. With Paczesniak
advancing into the semi-finals in singles and Chiene and Eddy advancing
into the semi-finals in doubles at the State Tournament, the 1967
Marshfield girls' tennis team tied with perennial tennis powerhouse
Roseburg as State High School Co-Champions, becoming the first girls'
State Championship team in Pirate history.
The success of the Marshfield tennis program didn't stop there as
Paczesniak (singles) and the Guenther twins (doubles) both advanced into
the quarterfinals at State in 1968, earning enough points for a 5th place
team State finish.
In 1969 the momentum carried the Pirates to a 6th place finish at
State with Peggy Eddy advancing to the quarterfinals in singles and the
doubles team of Linda Prefontaine and Marilyn Layton also advancing as far
as the State quarterfinals.
Marshfield never again achieved the success as a team at the State
Tournament that those late 1960's teams had, but has had numerous other
outstanding individuals. Linda Prefontaine won District doubles
Championships in 1970 (with Peggy Eddy) and again in 1971 (with Marilyn
Layton), advancing to the State semi-finals in 1970.
Patti Layton qualified for the State Tournament all four years of her
high school career (1971-74), culminating with a District singles
Championship and a State quarterfinal finish in 1974.
The 1980's saw Karyn Jensen and Kim Kemper win the District doubles
Championship in 1983 and Jill Jensen win the District singles Championship
in 1985.
In 1998, Katie Massie was the District singles runner-up and State
Consolation Champion and in 2004 Katie's younger sister, Suzanne Massie,
became the Pirates' 4th District Singles Champion of all-time on her way
to a State quarterfinal finish. |