The element of surprise, a valuable commodity in athletic competition, was nowhere to be found on the Wolves side of the net this year after Clarkston finished fourth in the state in 2004.
But despite being on every team’s radar, Clarkston legitimized their program this year, once again qualifying for the state tournament and finishing in fifth place with 16 points.
Ann Arbor Pioneer ran away with the state title with 36 points over Oct. 14-15 in play at the Midland Community Tennis Center.
‘With Pioneer winning the way they did, it felt like we were right up there with the rest of the teams in the state,? said Clarkston Coach Kyleen Cunningham.
Only three points separated Clarkston from second place finisher Ann Arbor Huron, who finished with 19 points.
Of all the Wolves, freshman Nicole Janek’s star shone the brightest as she willed her way to the No. 4 singles individual state championship.
‘She was incredible. She went out there with confidence. She wasn’t going to let herself lose. (Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Kyla Rowe) fought hard, but Nicole wasn’t going to let herself lose,? said Cunningham.
Rowe was the only player in the state who beat Janek this season, doing so in a tournament late in the year.
‘I erased any thought of (the loss). It was a new match, a new day,? said Janek.
Other Wolves bringing home medals for Clarkston are No. 2 single Alyssa Lucas and No. 3 single Darylann Trout, who each finished in second place in their respective flights.
Hopefully as time goes on, Lucas, a sophomore, and Trout, a junior, will take pride in their accomplishment this year, but right now both feel their finishes are bittersweet.
‘I was happy that our team did well. It was really hard to lose. (The match) could have gone either way,? said Lucas, who last year won an individual state championship in the No. 3 singles flight.
Trout, who made the quarterfinals last year as Clarkston’s No. 4 single, also came away from the states disappointed.
‘I’m not satisfied with second place,? said Trout. ‘I’m happy we (as a team) did as good as we did.?
Senior Stephanie Parkison added to the Wolves point total with a win in the No. 1 singles flight, an area of competition which Cunningham feels was stronger this year than any seasons in recent memory.
Providing a crucial two points to Clarkston’s overall tally were Clarkston’s No. 3 doubles tandem of Kayla Sweeney and Kelli McKay, who won their first match after receiving a bye.
‘We really needed (the victory from the No. 3 doubles). It ended up being the difference between fifth and sixth place,? said Cunningham, whose team finished just one point ahead of Traverse City Central in the standings.
Also scoring a point to propel the Wolves to fifth in the state were: Blair McCarty and Andrea Scarlett in No. 1 doubles flight; Kate Cooley and Alissa Crawford in the No. 2 doubles flight; and Jasmin Olinger and Kaitlyn Brown in the No. 4 doubles flight.
The prospects for Clarkston next year are bright as the team only loses three players. Though the loss of Parkison as a No. 1 single will be tough to replace, Trout, Lucas and Janek all have significant experience and success at states.
‘We’re only losing three players. That’s awesome. You can’t ask for more than that,? said Cunningham.
The Wolves went 6-0-3 in dual meet play this year and for the second season in a row tied West Bloomfield for the OAA Division II league title.
?(The season) was good. They are really starting to come together as a team,? said Cunningham.
With Clarkston’s success over the past two seasons, Cunningham expects the Wolves will move up to the OAA Division I league next year along with West Bloomfield.
The decision concerning which league Clarkston plays in next year should be decided in OAA meetings this week.