The Clarkston tennis team battled hard on April 14, but succumbed to the Lake Orion Dragons 5-3. Four of the Wolves? defeats on the day were split after the first two sets; the Dragons won all four of the decisive sets.
All of Lake Orion’s singles triumphed over Clarkston. Clarkston’s number one single, senior Amit Surapaneni was outlasted by Mike Zach, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2; Clarkston sophomore Zach Kerr lost to Mark Eden in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0 in the number two singles spot; Junior Jesse Livezey lost to Orion’s Ches Denison, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the number three singles spot; and Junior Erik Maesch lost to Chann Zhao 7-6 (7-5), 0-6, 6-4.
The Dragons number one doubles team of Shaun Colver and Peter Tinetti also defeated their Wolves counterparts, seniors Paul Chun and Paul Gunckle in a closely contested match, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
Clarkston did manage to pick up wins in the lower doubles spots. Number two doubles team Sophomore Chris Graczyk and Junior Pat McIlrath defeated Tom Lagona and Blake Young 6-1, 6-3. The third doubles slot was won by junior Zach McDonald and senior Dan Osterhage vanquished Ryan Myslakowski and Jason Thorn, 6-2, 6-0. Clarkston’s young fourth doubles pairing of freshman Erik Ejups and sophomore Brett McMillen captured a victory against the Dragons? Ramsy Attar and Ashland Denison, 6-4, 6-1.
The loss drops Clarkston’s record on the season to 1-1 (0-1).
The Wolves match against Rochester High on April 19 finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News. The next match for Clarkston is at Groves on April 20 followed by an April 26 date at Rochester Adams.