BOYS TENNIS: Holly wins regional title, advances to state finals for 15th straight season
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
HOLLY — Someone forgot to inform the members of Holly’s boys tennis program that 2014 was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
After graduating seven of its top players and nine total players, Holly reloaded the barrel this season to capture both a Flint Metro League and Division 2 regional championship. The latest came Friday on Holly’s courts, where the Bronchos captured the regional crown.
The regional win sends also Holly into the Lower Peninsula Division 2 state finals Oct. 17-18 at Kalamazoo College. The top two teams from each region, any additional teams scoring 18 or more points, and all finalists at No. 1 singles, qualify for the state finals.
“We lost a lot of players to graduation, so I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this group,” admitted Holly coach Will Sopheia. “This group has really stepped up. To win a league and regional with a lot of new players is an amazing accomplishment.”
After winning its 21st league title in 22 years, Holly carried its momentum into the regional tournament, scoring 27 points to lead the nine-school field. Flushing collected 25 points to grab the runner-up spot and also advance to the state finals.
Fenton was third with 17 points, missing out on a state qualifying berth by one point, while Ortonville Brandon (11), Davison (9), Bay City Central (3), Alpena (3), Swartz Creek (0) and Flint Kearsley (0) rounded out the field.
Holly captured six of the eight flights, good enough to pull away from the pack.
In singles play, Evan Vergith (No. 1), Connor Caldwell (No. 3) and Mitchell Hughes (No. 4) all captured flight wins to lead the way. The only singles flight that the Bronchos did not have a finalists was No. 2 singles, where Flushing’s Matt Hoff finished as the regional champ.
Holly sent representatives into the finals at all four doubles flights and came away with three flight champions. Scott Maki and Aaron Vergith (No. 2), Dillon Sink and Andrew Spak (No. 3), and Morgan Baylis and Ian Clink (No. 3) all won regional titles in doubles for Holly.
Flushing’s Nick Donnelly and Jason Lee captured the No. 1 doubles flight.
Holly last failed to reach the state finals in the spring of 2000 and have reached the final weekend of the season in 17 of the past 18 seasons. This is the 15th straight state finals appearance for Holly.
“I know that we have made it every year that I have been here, and for a few years before that,” said Sopheia. “I don’t know for sure how many straight times, but the important thing is that we are going again. To not only qualifying but winning a regional with so many new players is a great accomplishment. A lot of these guys were waiting (in the wings) last year, but slid right into our lineup and have done a great job. “
DIVISION 2 REGIONAL
(At Flushing)
TEAM SCORES — 1. Holly, 27; 2. Flushing, 25; 3. Fenton, 17; 4. Ortonville Brandon, 11; 5. Davison, 9; 6. (tie) Bay City Central, 3; Alpena, 3; 8. (tie) Swartz Creek, 0; Flint Kearsley, 0.
SINGLES — 1. Evan Vergith (Holly) d. Arron Adams (Fneton) 6-1, 6-1; 2. Matt Hoff (Flushing) d. Trifon Bisbiskus (Davison) 6-1, 6-3; 3. Connor Caldwell (Holly) d. Griffin Carr (Flushing) 6-3, 6-4; 4. Mitchell Hughes (Holly) d. Nick Mills (Flushing) 6-2, 6-2.
DOUBLES — 1. Nick Donnelly-Joey Lee (Flushing) d. F.rankie Richmond-Drew Fischer (Holly) 6-1, 6-0; 2. Scott Maki-Aaron Vergith (Holly) d. Jason Mantpas-Paul Wu (Flushing) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2; 3. Dillon Sink-Andrew Spak (Holly) d. Todd Roddie-Andrew Hallandal (Flushing) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; 4. Morgan Baylis-In Clink (Holly) d. Eddie Hallandal-Matt Karas (Flushing) 6-3, 6-1.
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