BATTLE CREEK – For the fourth year in a row, the Lakeview girls tennis team will be heading to the state finals.
Lakeview finished runner-up at the Division 2 regional at Mason to qualify as a team for the Michigan High School Athletic Association State Championships. The Division 2 finals will be held in Kalamazoo on May 29.
“Pretty huge accomplishment to say you have made four state finals in a row. It says a lot about the players and the program we have at Lakeview,” Lakeview tennis coach Jeff VanDis said. “It was a total team effort because everybody got points on the team. Everybody scored in the first round and we needed them all.”
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The Spartans had three regional champs in singles to lead the way as Lakeview had 21 team points to tie host Mason for second place. East Lansing was regional champ with 22 team points. Coldwater was fourth with 13 points with Battle Creek Central also in competition in the 10-team regional.
Lakeview sophomore Maddy Simonds finished first at No. 1 singles, defeating Gabby Hanover of Mason in the championship round, 6-3, 6-0. Spartan senior Sade Blackwell won the third regional title of her high school career, finishing first at No. 2 singles with a 6-0, 6-1 win over DeWitt’s Maddie Utrup in the finals. Karlee Gutsue was a champ at No. 4 singles for Lakeview, defeating Zoey Freeman of DeWitt in the final round, 7-5, 6-4.
Lakeview’s Emmy Ruger advanced to the semifinals at No. 3 singles.
In doubles action, Lakeview’s No. 1 doubles team of KaiLani Etheridge/Abigail Winer advanced to the semifinals. At No. 2 doubles, Anya Foljahn/Zoe Brizendine won in the first round. At No. 3, Josie Pawlowicz/Melanie Young advanced to the semifinals. At No. 4, Kiera Ramirez/Lillie Miller also advanced to the semifinals.
Division 2 at Byron Center
Gull Lake finished fourth as a team at the Division 2 regional at Byron Center. The best finishes for the Blue Devils came from Jordynn Dolbee (No. 2 singles) and the No. 1 double team of Alli Vanhuysen/Ava Orley, who all advanced to the championship round.
Division 3 at Marshall
Harper Creek, Pennfield and Marshall competed at a Division 3 regional at Marshall. No local players advanced to the state tournament. Harper Creek finished fourth as a team with 11 points. Parma Western was regional champs with 28.
Emily Purucker earned a win in the first round for Harper Creek at No. 2 singles. Jade Phillips and Aurora Arendsen each advanced to the semifinals for the Beavers at No. 3 singles and No. 4 singles, respectively. The Harper Creek No. 1 doubles team of Addison Woodruff/Elena Sandel advanced to the championship round. Harper Creek’s No. 4 doubles team of Grace Arbogast/Breanna VanDusser advanced to the semifinals.
Pennfield’s Anna Keown earned a first-round win at No. 1 singles for the Panthers’ lone point at the regionals.
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Lakeview girls tennis advances to state finals for fourth year in a row
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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