Coming into the 2003-04 season, the Wisconsin women’s tennis team had high hopes for a bright future after bringing in a recruiting class that included two players who had won the Wisconsin state championship in all four years of high school competition.
Freshman Caitlin Burke never lost a state match, or even a set, en route to her four Division I titles. Freshman Kaylan Caiati won the Division II state championship four years running and lost only three times in her high school career, with each loss coming against Burke. Now, the two high school standouts are teammates at Wisconsin and Caiati finds herself on the same squad as her toughest foe.
“It’s really nice to have her as a teammate,” Caiati said. “We have been very good friends for a long time. We’ve gone to many of the same tournaments together, and we were doubles partners and it is just nice to work together instead of having to go against her in competition,” Caiati said of Burke.
While Burke may have had the last laugh in the high school ranks, she has been injured much of her inaugural year, leaving it up to Caiati to represent the freshman class on the court. So far, Caiati has been up to the task.
Opening her career with three consecutive straight-set victories, Caiati set the tone for a good season and a great career. Caiati is 11-8 this season, including 3-3 in Big Ten play, where she has taken three of her last four matches. She has been a key factor in the Badgers’ 10-9 start, amassing the second-highest win total on the team behind only sophomore standout Katie McGaffigan (12-7, 3-3).
Caiati has served as the No. 5 singles player for most the season, but she moved up to the fourth slot for four duels during conference play. The freshman was up to the challenge, winning two of the four matches against stiff competition.
Caiati, who hails from Greendale, Wis., believes that getting a taste of the college athlete lifestyle in the fall season has helped her achieve her current success.
“I feel better about the whole situation I had to deal with in the fall season,” Caiati said. “I definitely felt overwhelmed a little in my first semester, but now I think second semester has been much easier. I just thought it was a lot easier having experienced it before. I think now as the season progressed, I got used to the ways everything is run in college and I got to focus on my game on the court more.”
UW women’s tennis coach Patti Henderson has also noted the difference in Caiati’s game since the fall season.
“Kaylan (Caiati), I would say, is one of our most improved players since she first stepped on campus here in September to now,” Henderson said. “Every day at practice she works hard at getting better, and when she competes, all of her energy goes into doing everything that she can to come out with a victory. With her it has been a little bit of everything. Physically, she has gotten a little bit stronger and quicker; technically, she has gotten a little more sound; and, confidence-wise, I think she is playing with more confidence. It’s all translating into her being a better tennis player.”
With Caiati, McGaffigan and now Burke all playing well right now, Wisconsin is firing on all cylinders heading into the stretch run. Beyond this season, the Badgers’ fortunes look even more promising. With every game, set and match, the young, talented Wisconsin squad gains experience and prepares itself for an exciting new era in Badger tennis.
“We have a big freshman class and I think only good things can come from it,” Caiati said. “I am just excited to see what happens.”