Troy is very familiar with success from its tennis programs. The boys program has won two Division 1 state titles since 2021 while the girls logged a second-place finish in 2023.
Head coach Brian Miska oversees both programs and is very excited about his spring season crew. With all of the success that his teams have had over the years, his excitement must mean something is brewing with this roster.
“I have a very young team that is still learning how to win, but they have the hunger and desire to get better and figure it out,” Miska said. “The biggest compliment I can give my team is their effort and desire. I’m excited about the future of the program because when you mix together effort and desire that can lead to great results.”
That youth movement starts at the top where freshman Julia Xiao has assumed the mantle at No. 1 singles. Miska made sure to give her praise for how she is handling the responsibility.
“Julia is a freshman who has come in and taken on the role at the top of the lineup, which is a brutal position,” Miska said. “You have to bring your A game every match up there, especially with the schedule we play, and I think for a freshman she’s done a good job representing our team.”
The OAA Red makes a schedule immediately difficult. Troy, Clarkston, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and Bloomfield Hills are all ranked in the top 10 of Michigan’s top division, while Birmingham Seaholm and Birmingham Groves are top-five teams in Division 2. That tough schedule prepares the schools for the postseason, which is what Miska gears everything toward.
“Our main goals are to just get better each day and be ready for the state tournament,” Miska said. “Our season’s biggest tournament is the last one and so we want to do everything we can to shine there. I believe in a good process and the results will follow.”
Junior Jhoshi Prasath is at No. 2 singles after winning the same flight at regionals a year ago. At No. 3 singles is Anastasia Baradoka, a junior who competed in doubles last year that also won her flight at regionals. Maryam Majjoo is at No. 4 singles.
While there isn’t much senior flavor, Nainika Jasti powers the doubles lineup as a senior captain. Her partner Hannah Wanstreet is a sophomore, and Miska is proud of his No. 1 doubles team.
“Nainika is our team captain, former state champion, and all state player,” Miska said. “She has always been about doing what’s best for the team and not herself and you don’t always get players with that attitude. Her partner Hannah is one of our most improved players. She is actually relatively new to tennis but she is extremely coachable. It’s been fun to see her become one of the top doubles players in the state.”
Sophie Wanstreet is right behind Hannah at No. 2 doubles, pairing with Angela Zhang. Rounding out the doubles lineup is Silvia Mallavarapu, Emily Moon, Arya Iyer and Vibha Krishna.
Utica Ford rules in MAC White
No matter the sport, no matter the season, it is hard to win a championship. Utica Ford head coach Stephen Nellis knows this, and that is why he is extremely proud of his group securing the MAC White tournament championship last week.
“Winning the MAC White was a goal of ours,” Nellis said. “We knew winning the regular season division was going to be tough but we knew we could win the tournament. The girls just played wonderfully. They were calm, cool and collected, yet intense and focused. I wanted to win at least one of the two because these girls deserve it, they work hard all year long. It’s nice that they can celebrate a championship.”
When Nellis says they deserve it, he means it. He complimented his team as people even before he went on to talk about their championship-level tennis effort.
“My team is full of such wonderful people to be around. They are kind, caring, respectful, supportive, funny, goofy, and truly amazing human beings,” Nellis said. “I absolutely love spending time with them. All the hours we put in together, six days a week, they make it all worth it.”
Junior Nikki Singh is at No. 1 singles, with sophomores Marisa Kado, Rosana Pantalena and Ella Bajric filling out the rest of the singles lineup.
The No. 3 doubles team of Sarah Borland and Jaclyn Dudde shined in tournament action. In the flight championship, the duo played a team that they had previously lost to during the regular season. Borland and Dudde, both seniors, were able to flip the match and pull out a three-set victory, keying the team win.
“I wasn’t there to see it, probably for the best because my heart couldn’t take it.” said Nellis, who was at a different site of the tournament when that match took place.
Nellis also highlighted the No. 2 doubles team of Taylor Denz and Brooke Zupan. They went undefeated in MAC White play and capped off the undefeated league season with the first-place tournament finish.
The rest of the Ford lineup includes Kaitlyn Garon and Layla Bajric at No. 1 doubles and Savana Tobia and Gina Tavolacci at No. 4 doubles.
Ford now will look to add another memorable moment in its season with a spot in the state finals at regionals next week. Troy and Troy Athens are expected to be the main contenders for the automatic spot to states. The top two in each region qualify.
Regional action takes place from May 13-16.
Griffin Beers is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Metro Detroit girls high school tennis notes: Troy’s young squad making big strides
Reporting by Griffin Beers, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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