HARTLAND — Arianna Kinney had finally risen to No. 1 singles on Hartland’s tennis team, but she wasn’t enjoying herself.
Playing the top singles flight for a KLAA West school like Hartland means facing some of the top competition in the state, particularly from powerhouses Northville and Novi.
It was a bit of a culture shock after playing No. 4 singles as a freshman and going 14-4 at No. 2 singles as a sophomore.
“Last year was really tough on me mentally,” Kinney said. “Mentally, that was probably one of my lowest years I’ve played. Just the adjustment from 2 to 1 was a big jump for me.”
With a year of experience at No. 1 singles, Kinney has been much more competitive playing the best players Hartland’s opponents have to offer.
By winning 6-1, 6-1 over Brighton senior Sydney Grisamer on Tuesday, April 28, Kinney improved her record to 9-5. She is undefeated in four matches against Livingston County opponents, losing only four games.
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“My season has been very successful,” Kinney said. “As a senior, I’ve really honed in on my mental side to get that aspect down of really going after every point with a new mindset and taking advantage of the point when I’m up.”
Kinney has beaten Grisamer, a three-year No. 1 singles player for Brighton, twice in the past week.
“I love playing Sydney,” Kinney said. “She’s a great competitor to play with. She’s also very kind, which makes me play a little bit better and I’m more kind to her, as well.”
Kinney’s losses this season have been to players from Northville, Novi, Grand Blanc, Canton and North Farmington.
“Going against better players makes me way better,” said Kinney, who will continue her tennis career at Northwood University. “I feel more confident in my shot and I can hit it wit more power. When I play those schools, I get more aggressive and have more of a rough attitude toward them. They’re so disciplined in their shots and execute them so well. I want to exhibit those same things in my play when I play those people.”
Despite Kinney’s victory at No. 1 singles, Hartland lost 6-3 to Brighton.
Boys track and field
Plymouth 69, Brighton 68
Zach Wyderko won the 800-meter run in 2:00.58 and was on the winning 3,200 relay for Brighton. Mason Gay won the 400 in 50.79 and was second in the 100 in 11.33 for the Bulldogs. Plymouth won the meet by winning the 1,600 relay.
Pinckney 78.5, Ypsilanti Lincoln 58.5
Pinckney’s Sam Burtts won the 110 hurdles in 15.05 and the 300 hurdles in 42.43, while placing second in long jump at 19 feet, 8.5 inches. Cole McCraw won the 1,600 in 4:31.66 and the 800 in 2:04.50 for the Pirates.
Fowlerville 79, Mason 58
Williamston 80, Fowlerville 57
Fowlerville’s Gavin Rager cleared 6-3 to win high jump, the top performance in Livingston County in that event this season.
Kellen Douglass won long jump at 20-4.5 and Connell Hardenbrook won the 400 in 51.36 for the Gladiators.
Girls track and field
Brighton 98, Plymouth 38
Brighton’s Addison Ries swept the hurdles, winning the 100s in 18.04 and the 300s in 54.04. She was also on the winning 400 relay team.
Ella Lorenz won the 800 in 2:18.41 and was on two winning relays for Brighton.
Pinckney 87, Ypsilanti Lincoln 50
Davea Crowe won the 100 hurdles in 16.61 and the 200 in 27.17, while placing second in the 300 hurdles in 46.51 for Pinckney. Jaelyn Ray won the 1,600 in 5:17.51 and the 800 in 2:18.24.
Williamston 81, Fowlerville 55
Mason 95, Fowlerville 41
Peyton Brooks won long jump with a leap of 15-1.25 for Fowlerville’s only first-place finish.
Girls soccer
Hartland 1, Plymouth 0
Eva Larson scored off a corner kick by Elise L’Esperance midway through the second half to give Hartland the victory.
Haley DePestel had to make only two saves for the shutout. The Eagles improved to 8-3-1 overall, 5-0-1 in the KLAA West.
“It was one of those games where we had a ton of the ball and we had a lot of opportunities,” Hartland coach Andrew Kartsounes said. “We had 11 shots on frame, 10 corner kicks. Their goalie was just phenomenal tonight. She made some great saves and we just weren’t finding the corners.
“We went a man up about five minutes into the second half. They had a player red-carded for a foul outside the box. It was just one of those nights where you have to get your goal and go away with the win.”
Softball
Fowlerville 14-12, St. Johns 10-7
Fowlerville improved to 6-0 in the CAAC Red and 10-7 overall after rallying from a 6-0 deficit in the second game.
Payton Ryan and McKayla Fletcher drove in three runs each in the first game for the Gladiators. Annabelle Szumlinski was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in the second game.
Baseball
Lutheran NW 12, Charyl Stockwell 2
Ryan Eikey drove in both runs for Stockwell (3-6).
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Hartland tennis’ Arianna Kinney proving she belongs in top flight
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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