MIDLAND — Few doubted Ann Arbor Greenhills’ ability to win its fourth consecutive tennis state championship, especially with 11 of 12 players returning from last year’s title-winning squad, and seven of eight flights seeded first going into the weekend tournament at the Midland Tennis Center.
Sophia Kleer, who was half of an unranked duo at the second doubles flight, didn’t doubt her team’s abilities, either.
“I had a new partner going into this, because my (regular) partner sprained her ankle recently. We found out a week before that we were going to play together,” Kleer said. “We just were excited to get some upsets and make some moves in the draw.”
Kleer and classmate Sophia Chen won the bracket at the recent regional match. But then Chen suffered a sprained ankle, which sidelined her for states. So Kleer was paired up with senior Jessica Shi, and the Gryphons didn’t miss a beat.
“I played with (Sophie) last year as well and we actually won the state title, but then I got the chance to play with Jessica Shi — it was amazing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Kleer said. “I always have confidence in my team, and I knew that we would get the job done. It was great.”
“Our hearts were broken for our friend and teammate Sophie Chen when she couldn’t compete, because she’s been such a big part of this turnaround of this project. She’s such an impressive player,” coach Mark Randolph said. “But I feel like our hearts were mended by the effort of Jessica Shi, who’s been a part of our team for four years and had never played in the regional or in the state. She had never been in the lineup consistently. On top of that, they had the support that Sophie Chen gave them.
“It’s funny, it’s a mingled yarn — my heart’s broken for her, but it’s mended for Jessica Shi, and for the team.”
Kleer and Shi had the tournament’s pivotal triumph late Friday with a third-round upset of the second-ranked doubles team from Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, which had been matching Greenhills point-for-point up to that stage.
“That was very important,” Randolph said. “It’s a two-point turnaround — they didn’t get a point, and we got that point. It was a real momentum boost for us. These guys all love Jessica and they put their concern for Sophie into their love for her. Sophia was a great partner and really did her job well, but I’ve got to say Notre Dame Prep was a terrific team, so to be able to win that match was just so special for us. I hope that Notre Dame felt like it was a good match for them, and it was good all around.”
Kleer was aware what was on the line with that match.
“We wanted that win super bad, because we knew us and Notre Dame Prep were big competitors for the state title, as well,” she said. “That was a great match for us.”
When it was all said and done, Greenhills won six of the eight flights, finishing with 38 of a possible 40 team points. Notre Dame Prep finished second overall with 28, and was followed in the top five by Traverse City St. Francis (20), Wixom St. Catherine (19) and Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard (15).
Kleer and Shi finished as flight runners-up — not bad for a doubles team that had just formed prior to the state tournament. And when it came to taking the celebratory team picture, Chen was right in the center, holding the trophy.
At first singles, Greenhills' Maddie Morgan won her third consecutive state title, with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Notre Dame Prep freshman Marissa Bitoni.
“Marissa really played very well in that match,” Morgan said. “It really just came down to a few points. I’m just trying to take it match-by-match, point-by-point. She played a great, competitive match, and she should be really proud of how she played.”
Morgan was equally happy to see her freshman sister, Hazel, win the third singles flight. Besides Chi, Hazel Morgan was the only new player in Greenhills’ senior-heavy state-tournament lineup.
The Gryphons’ other state champions were Ellie Kim (second singles), Nina Malani (fourth singles), Shangyang Xia and Danica Rakic-Dennis (first doubles), and Lauren Ye and Alyssa Hong (third doubles).
Randolph didn’t hesitate when asked what was the most rewarding aspect of the season.
“That’s an easy one, it’s the relationships, he said. “Trophies get dusty and our memories can get kind of fuzzy, but the relationships that we have are for as long as we live. When you have 16 sisters that can pull together like that, you’ve got a really special group.”
St. Catherine duo makes history
The second doubles title went to Wixom St. Catherine’s Lily Wolocko and Loren Nafso, who defeated Kleer and Shi, 6-3, 6-3. In doing so, the senior/freshman duo became the first state champions in school history — in any sport.
“Being able to do it for the school and have that opportunity as the first state champs is a really cool experience,” Wolocko said. “Loren is super consistent and just a great player all around. I prefer volleying a lot, so I think we just even each other out, just like both sides of the court. We just have a good mentality too, so we play well and we just cover each other.”
As a freshman, Nafso admitted she was a bit nervous going into the tournament.
“I felt a lot of pressure knowing I’ve got to win states, and then next year I have high expectations, but I’m really glad I got the opportunity to make it to states this year and win overall,” she said. “It feels great (to become a state champ), especially knowing that I have three more years here. I really love how me and Lily were able to pull through and win it for our whole school and our tennis program.”
Mercy is runner-up in Division 2
Vying for their first team title, Farmington Hills Mercy played it close, yet had to settle for second place in the Division 2 tournament at Kalamazoo College. The Marlins scored 25 points, behind only perennial power Birmingham Seaholm (32), which had won three times and shared another title in the past 10 tournaments.
Mercy senior Gabby Owens successfully defended her fourth singles title, defeating Seaholm’s Izzy Bloom, 6-0, 7-5.
The Marlins reached the final round in three other flights: Megan Sullivan and Keira Kirkland were runners-up in first and second singles, respectively, while the third doubles team of Penelope Livermore and Reese Sinawi also played for a championship.
Cranbrook, Marian place in top three
The Division 3 tournament usually boils down to a duel between Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook and Detroit Country Day, and this year was no exception. Country Day took the team title with 34 points, just ahead of Cranbrook (32). Birmingham Marian (22) finished in third place.
Cranbook had champions in several top flights. Chloe Qin and Caroline Liu won first and second singles, respectively. The Cranes’ Ava Clogg and Chiara Martella won the first doubles title, while Sophia Kouza and Madeline Day followed suit at second doubles.
Marian sophomores Stella Glorio and Lexa Hindo won the state championship for third doubles.
