The Clarkston varsity tennis team came through
in the clutch with a third place finish in the MHSAA
Division I Regional Tournament on Oct. 7. The wolves
qualified for the state tournament by totaling 19 team
points. This is the first time in over 20 years a boys
or girls tennis team from Clarkston has made the cut
for states.
‘The regional was really strong, but (the girls) did
the job that they needed to do,? said Clarkston Coach
Kyleen Cunningham.
The field featured a Farmington Hills Mercy squad
which is currently ranked seventh in the state by the
Michigan High School Tennis Association.
Clarkston’s netters, who are ranked eighth in the same
poll, also faced stiff competition from West
Bloomfield, Novi and Rochester.
As has been the case all season, the Wolves were
carried by their strong singles players. Senior Lauren
Little won the number one singles flight. Freshmen
Alyssa Lucas and Sophomore Darylann Trout won
the number three and four singles brackets respectively.
‘Everyone really wanted it (today),? said Lucas.
What put Clarkston over the cusp was the play of
freshmen Kate Cooley and freshmen Blair McCarty
who gutted out a win against Milford 6-0, 6-7 (7), 6-
1 to advance to the semifinal of the number two
doubles bracket.
Throughout their 8-0-1 season this year, the
Wolves have struggled to find consistency from their
doubles. Despite their undefeated season, Cunningham
was nervous about the regional. The Wolves competed
as a Division II school this year in terms of the
league but now compete in Division I for the regional
and state tournaments due to the size of Clarkston.
‘The big thing with the state tournament is to focus
on each match and not be nervous,? said
Cunningham.
The state tournament will be held Oct. 15 and 16
at the Midland Community Tennis Center in Midland
MI.
Farmington Hills Mercy won the regional
draw with 23 points and was followed by West
Bloomfield with 22. Regionals were held at North
Farmington, Farmington Hills Harrison and the
Highland Lakes Campus of Oakland Community
College.
The top two teams at regionals automatically
advance to the state tournament. Due to some
regionals being especially strong, the MHSAA
allows teams that score 18 or more points to
play in the state tournament.