Kristina Lucas and Katie Brozovich faced their emotions as they played against opponents they knew too well.
Lucas made it to the championship round in Singles #3 at MHSAA state finals for tennis after defeating Ann Arbor Pioneer in a tie breaker.
Then she came face-to-face with her best friend Sara Carlson from Novi High School at Midland Tennis Center.
‘We both wanted each other to win,? said Lucas. ‘It was hard to finish it out because I didn’t want her to lose, but I wanted me to win.?
Lucas focused on her goal she had set for herself – she was going to be champion like her sister Alyssa did in 2004.
‘She was very determined,? said Coach Becky Freeman. ‘She played great. She ran like no other. Kristina’s style is very nonchalant and she was really running.?
Lucas defeated Carlson, 6-3, 6-4.
‘When she beat her, she was crying and apologizing,? said Freeman. ‘It was a double edge sword that she would have to take the state title from her friend.?
Lucas and Carlson hugged after the match and celebrated each other’s great finish – Lucas as champion and Carlson as runner-up.
‘It’s cool we both made it that far,? said Lucas.
Brozovich faced her cousin, Rae from Port Huron Northern in Singles #2 in her first match for the finals. She beat her 6-1, 6-0 for the first time the two have played each other.
Katie continued to beat two more foes, including a battle against Saline’s Mary Hanna. Both had won a set and had tied the third set.
‘She battled,? said Freeman.
Katie won the third set 7-6 (6) and went into the championship round against Andrea Calhoun from Midland Dow.
Katie lost the first set 6-0 and won the second 6-1.
Both were tied in the final set at five. Calhoun pulled ahead to win the championship, 7-5.
Katie finished runner up and lost her first match for the season.
The team finished in seventh place with 14 points, missing sixth place by one points and fourth by three points.
‘They did very well,? said Freeman.
Gabby Spindler in Singles #1 and Abbey Hubreson in Singles #4 went 1-1 during the event.
‘Abbey would have done better,? said Freeman. ‘Based on the draw she played the #1 seed in her second round. She could have beat a ton of the other girls if she hadn’t played her. Some of the draws were tough.?
Double teams Erica Zentner and Jordan, Monique Zentner and Alaina Nido , and Anna Gencoy and Amy Wozniak lost their first round.
Kelsey Crawford and Allie Wilson won their first round against Troy-Athens, 7-0, 7-6 (3). They lost the next round to Northville, 6-0, 6-2.
After Clarkston’s performance talk has already began between other teams the Lady Wolves is who to look out for next spring.
The majority of the team is back next year after three seniors graduated on June 7 and incoming freshman Lexi Baylis will start on varsity.
‘We are looking forward to next year,? she said. ‘Being better and stronger for another season.?