The Clarkston varsity girls tennis team was too good to be kept out of the field at the State Tournament, and they proved it Oct.15-16 bringing home three individual state champions and finishing fourth overall.
Senior Lauren Little won the number one singles flight, Junior Stephanie Parkison powered her way through the number two singles flight and Freshman Alyssa Lucas claimed the throne in the number three singles flight.
“Coming from last in the league (last year) to fourth in the State is inspiring,? said Clarkston Coach Kyleen Cunningham. ‘We are up there with all the big dogs now” said Clarkston Coach Kyleen Cunningham.
Clarkston finished with 20 points in the tournament, 10 points behind State champion Ann Arbor Huron. Ann Arbor Pioneer and Grosse Pointe South rounded out the top three posting scores of 25 and 21 respectively.
Aside from the play of the top three singles players other Wolves stepped up at the State tournament which was held at The Midland Community Tennis Center. Freshman Darylann Trout advanced to the quarterfinals of the number four singles draw; the number four doubles tandem of seniors Jen Aenlle and Allyson Kowalk advanced to the second round of their flight.
“I was screaming for joy and running up and down the court after (Aenlle and Kowalk) won their match,” said Cunningham.
The tennis team was undefeated this season but played in division II. Due to the size CHS’s student body, the Wolves moved up to division I for regionals and the State Tournament.
Cunningham felt that her team’s participation in numerous weekend tournaments where they went up against the tougher DI schools, prepared them for their postseason run.
Making their finish at States that much more meaningful is that Clarkston finished ahead of their rivals West Bloomfield and Farmington Hills Mercy. The two schools which finished ahead of Clarkston at regionals, making it necessary for the Wolves to qualify for States on points
“We had a goal to be top five at States but also we wanted to beat West Bloomfield and Mercy,” said Cunningham.
Cunningham is confident that with an influx of talent from the JV team and in the incoming ninth grade class, coupled with the fact that Parkison, Trout and Lucas are returning, the team can build on its success next season.