Clarkston tennis is heading back to the State Finals one year after qualifying for the first time in the program’s history. The Division I girls tennis finals are held Oct. 14-15 at the Midland Community Tennis Center.
To qualify for states, the Wolves finished second at Regionals with 21 points on Oct. 7 in Novi, one point behind Farmington Hills Mercy but ahead of Novi, who also qualified for states with 18 points.
‘Our biggest goal was to get to states and we got that. I’m just really proud of the girls. They knew what they had to do and they went out and did it,? Clarkston Coach Kyleen Cunningham said.
At regionals, sophomore Alyssa Lucas won the No. 2 singles flight, junior Darylann Trout won the No. 3 singles flight and freshman Nicole Janek won the No. 4 singles flight.
Clarkston’s No. 3 doubles team of sophomores Kayla Sweeney and Kelli McKay netted the Wolves some much needed points with a second place finish at regionals.
For a final sharpening before heading to states, Clarkston visited Lahser for a scrimmage on Oct. 10. With the state finals rapidly approaching, Cunningham feels the most important preparation is mental.
‘There is not a lot of stuff they can learn right now,? said Cunningham.
Clarkston should be buoyed at states by No. 1 single Stephanie Parkison, Lucas and Trout’s experience and past success. Parkison won the No. 2 singles title last year and Lucas won the No. 3 singles title. Trout reached the quarterfinals in the No. 4 singles flight.
Parkison, in particular, will face stiff competition this year. Cunningham feels the No. 1 singles flight has more talented players than last year, when Clarkston’s Lauren Little won the individual No. 1 singles title.
?(Parkison) is capable of stepping up,? said Cunningham.
Clarkston has found a constant rival in Mercy dating back to last year’s regional tournament, where the Wolves qualified for states with 19 points, but still finished behind Mercy. Clarkston managed a fourth place finish last year in the finals while Mercy finished fifth. Aside from the regional tournament this year, Clarkston and Mercy each bettered the other in tournaments twice.