FOWLERVILLE — If Fowlerville had to rely on girls who were primarily tennis players, its season would’ve ended nearly three weeks ago.
But because the Gladiators are able to take athletes whose first love is another sport and mold them into competitive tennis players, they are heading to the state tournament for the first time in program history.
“We do not really have any tennis-first kids,” said coach Steven Quigley, a former Fowlerville tennis player. “What’s been working for us these last few years is a lot of athletes playing multiple sports putting a tennis racket in their hand and figuring it out from there.”
Along the way, as they begin to experience success in the sport, tennis has taken on a greater importance for Fowlerville’s players.
“I never really expected to take tennis as seriously as I do today,” said senior Mya Murawski, a No. 1 doubles player whose primary sport has always been volleyball.
“I realized it was something I really enjoyed besides the other sports I was playing. Just the hard work I saw myself putting in and the progression I was actually making made it feel more achievable to be where I got to today.”
Even if many of the Gladiators grew up playing other sports, senior Adisyn Grimm dismisses the notion tennis is a secondary sport for her and her teammates.
“We play three sports,” said Grimm, a No. 2 singles player. “We’re really busy. It’s really nice to see some of the same girls out there.”
When Murawski and Grimm began playing for Fowlerville, qualifying for a state tournament wasn’t a realistic vision.
The Gladiators finished seventh at regionals when they were freshmen and sixth their sophomore year. The top two teams qualify for the state finals.
After tying for third at regionals last season, Fowlerville was ready to take the final step to punch its ticket to the state tournament Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6, at Midland Tennis Center.
“Last year it was achievable, but we weren’t able to pull it off,” Grimm said. “This year, the chance was more likely. My freshman and sophomore year, it wasn’t really in the picture for us. It was exciting we have that opportunity this year.”
Fowlerville qualified on May 14 by finishing second its Division 3 regional with 21 points, three points ahead of third-place Williamston. Haslett won with 30.
The Gladiators became the first Livingston County girls team to qualify for the state finals since Brighton made it in Division 1 for the sixth season in a row in 2009. Only four individuals from the county have gone since then.
“It’s what we’ve been working for since I got here these last three years,” Quigley said. “The girls have bought in. Our junior high program numbers have been growing. Even the high school girls program has gone up every year since I’ve been here. Hopefully, that continues to happen, especially with this success.”
Fowlerville’s regular lineup has a 71-29 record at doubles and 59-38 at singles.
“That was the way we knew we’d be able to get to states,” Quigley said. “In our region, Haslett usually dominates the singles. So, a lot of focus this year went into doubles. Having that balance and having that depth is a huge part for us.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Once unlikely goal is reality for state-bound Fowlerville girls tennis
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
