Appleton Tennis Players to Compete at WIAA State Meet

Nineteen athletes from the Appleton area head to Madison this Thursday for the WIAA state championship tournament.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Tennis

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a tennis player in mid-swing, using vibrant green and yellow strokes to capture match intensity. — Nineteen high school tennis players from the Appleton area travel to Madison this Thursday to compete in the WIAA state championships. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Nineteen tennis players from the Appleton area are set to compete at the WIAA state championships starting Thursday, October 15. The three-day tournament will be held at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison.

Why it matters

The tournament brings together the top high school tennis talent from across Wisconsin to determine state champions across two divisions. Competition will conclude with the final rounds held on Saturday.

Vivie Auth enters the tournament with a perfect 25-0 season record and an 86-match winning streak. Additionally, top-seeded Division 1 doubles pair Sydney Michalkiewicz and Rebekah Thomas hold a 30-2 season record.

The players

Vivie Auth

She is the No. 2 seed in Division 2 singles and holds an 86-match winning streak.

Sydney Michalkiewicz

She is the top seed in Division 1 doubles and holds a 30-2 season record.

Rebekah Thomas

She is the top seed in Division 1 doubles alongside Sydney Michalkiewicz.

Celia Gentile

She is the No. 5 seed in Division 1 singles with a 29-3 season record.

The details

Athletes will compete in either Division 1 or Division 2 brackets based on their school classification. The event schedule features an opening day of competition followed by quarterfinals on Friday and concluding with semifinals and championship matches on Saturday.

The tournament begins Thursday, October 15 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Tournament quarterfinals occur Friday, October 16.
Semifinal, consolation, and championship matches occur Saturday, October 17.

Season Trajectory

The WIAA state tournament serves as the culmination of the high school season and determines the final rankings for all participants. Performance in this event heavily influences regional standing and the competitive balance for the following school year.

Fans tracking the tournament can monitor seeding results for top-ranked players like Vivie Auth and the duo of Michalkiewicz and Thomas to see how they influence the final team standing points. The outcome of the consolation matches will also finalize the overall podium placements for the state tournament.

The takeaway

The WIAA state championships showcase the dedication of regional athletes who have secured their spots through rigorous season play. Spectators can follow these local competitors as they navigate the bracket toward the state title.