GIRLS TENNIS: Holly looking forward to its 13th straight state finals berth

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

HOLLY — For all of the successful tennis programs in Oakland County, Holly has quietly sat underneath the radar for years.

While the Bronchos’ girls tennis team’s amazing 29-year reign atop of the Flint Metro League came to an end two weeks ago, as Holly finished second to Fenton at the league tournament after tying Fenton in a dual in mid-May, the Bronchos have proven to be a worthy opponent.

SWING TIME: Holly's Alex Knight and the Bronchos are making their 13th straight state finals appearance this weekend in Kalamazoo. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

The league streak was the longest of any sport inside Oakland County, which has close to 70 public and private high schools of various sizes. Holly has still extended another streak this season nevertheless, one that is quite impressive.

The Bronchos have now reached the state tournament 13 straight times and will make the trek to Kalamazoo College this weekend with the hopes of finishing in the top 10 at the Division 2 state finals.

Holly finished 16^th last season, scoring two points.

“It was heartbreaking to lose the league, because we found out afterwards that they used the wrong point system and we only finished a point behind Fenton,” noted Holly coach Will Sophiea. “But our streak of making it to the state finals is something that we take pride in. We have been very consistent over the years.”

The last time Holly did not make the state finals was the fall 1998 season. Since then, the Bronchos have been on a roll, including tying for third place at the Division 2 state finals in 2004 — the school’s all-time best finish.

Although Holly has widely benefited from being far enough north not to have t play in the tennis power pocket that includes public and private schools from communities such as Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Troy, West Bloomfield and Farmington Hills,  the Bronchos’ success on the tennis courts cannot be overlooked.

Holly, which has played in several quality tournaments this season that featured multiple state-ranked teams, was one of three teams to advance from the Holly regional on May 19. Fenton won the team title with 26 points, while Holly was second at 24 and Flushing third and an additional qualifier with 19 points.

The Bronchos scored in all eight flights at the league tournament and regional and had finalists in four of the eight flights at the regional. Natalie Clink (No. 3 singles), Audrey Crimmins and Victoria Skubik (No. 1 doubles), Felicia Doolin and Tabitha Steigerwald (No. 2 doubles) and Leah Moller and Carley Postma (No. 3 doubles) all won their flights at the recent regional.

Brianna Rodriguez (No. 1 singles) was a regional runner-up.

“We’re looking forward to the state tournament,” said Sophiea. “We knew the league and regional would come down to us and Fenton. Fenton has become quite competitive the past few years and they beat us by a couple of points at the regional. We’re still going to state, which is always one of our goals as a team.”

At the state finals, Holly picked up first-round byes in four of the flights.

Misty Gerecke (No. 2 singles), Crimmins and Skubik (No. 1 doubles), Felicia Doolin and Tabitha Steigerwald (No. 2 doubles) and Carley Postma and Leah Moller (No. 3 doubles) all picked up first-round passes, while Rodriguez (No. 1 singles), Clink (No. 3 singles), Alex Knight (No. 4 singles) and Abby Chatfield and Melanie Hawks (No. 4 doubles) have to play first-round matches.

Except for 2004, Holly has finished between 12^th and 19^th at the D-2 state finals each year in the past decade.

“I would like to think we can finish a little higher this season, but it all comes down to the draws,” said Sophiea. “We have some girls that have some really good records this season and we hope to have some girls win at least one match at (the state finals).”

HOLLY AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT IN PAST DECADE:

2011 (D-2, 16^th, two points)

2010 (D-2, 12^th, five points)

2009 (D-2, 13^th, six points)

2008 (D-2, 19^th, one point)

2006 (D-2, 13^th, five points)

2005 (D-2, 14^th, six points)

2004 (D-2, third, 15 points)

2003 (D-2, 12^th, six points

2002 (D-2, 16^th, three points)

FLINT METRO LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

TEAM SCORES — 1. Fenton, 58; 2. Holly, 57; 3. Ortonville Brandon, 46; 4. Lapeer West, 41; 5. Lapeer East, 28; 6. Clio, 26; 7. Swartz Creek, 18; 8. Flint Kearsley, 14.

DUAL MEET STANDINGS  — 1. (tie) Holly (6-0-1); Fenton (6-0-1); 3. Ortonville Brandon (5-2-0); 4. Lapeer  West (4-3-0); 5. Lapeer  East (3-4-0); 6. Swartz Creek (1-5-1); 7. Flint Kearsley (0-5-2); 8. Clio (0-6-1).

FINAL STANDINGS  —  1. Fenton, 15.5 points; 2. Holly, 14.5; 3. Ortonville Brandon, 12; 10. Lapeer West, 10; 5. Lapeer East, 8; 6. Swartz Creek, 5; 7. Clio, 4; 8. Flint Kearsley, 3.

DIVISION 2 REGIONAL
(May 19 at Holly)

TEAM SCORES — 1. Fenton, 26; 2. Holly, 24; 3. Flushing, 19; 4. Lapeer West, 12; 5. Ortonville-Brandon, 9; 6. Lapeer East, 9; 7. Clio, 3; 8. Bay City Central, 2; 9. Flint Kearsley, 1; Swartz Creek, 1; 11. Flint Northern, 0.

                                                     CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHTS

SINGLES — 1. Madison Ballard (Fenton) d. Bri Rodriguez (Holly) 6-2, 6-2; 2. Kendal Stephens (F) d. Dani Richards (Ortonville Brandon) 6-0, 6-0; 3. Natalie Clink (Holly) d. Ali Huber (Flushing) 6-4, 6-4; 4. Justine Hanson (Fenton) d. Mary Morrison (Lapeer East) 0-6, 6-2, 7-5

DOUBLES — 1. Audrey Crimmins-Victoria Skubik (Holly) d. Emily McIntosh-Lilly Dubois (Fenton) 6-1, 6-4; 2. Felicia Doolin-Tabitha Steigerwald (Holly) d. Caitlin Peet-Brianna Dragomer (Flusing) 0-6, 6-2, 6-0; 3. Leah Moller-Carley Postma (Holly) d. Allison Peters-Ashley Howe (Fenton) 7-5, 6-1; 4. Katelyn Praedel-Kelly Chopski (Fenton) d. Jennifer Combs-Sarah Sanders (Flushing) 6-3, 6-3.

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