After a less than satisfying regular season, the Seaholm varsity boys tennis team headed into the state playoffs with optimism.
Seaholm finished the year going 1-10, with their lone win coming against the Lahser Knights.
After qualifying for the state playoffs with 11 points (teams needed ten points in regionals to qualify), the Maples entered the post season as underdogs.
“Coming in as underdogs, we did not expect much,” senior Mikael Nefcy said. “But through some good playing we managed to take tenth in the state.”
Although Seaholm did not send anybody to the second day, they still finished the season 10th in the state for Division 2 schools.
The #3 Doubles pairing of juniors Jason Mondry and Alec Tropea reached the quarterfinals before they were bounced by Andover. Mondry and Tropea made it the furthest of any Maples.
Mondry and Tropea upset U of D Jesuit on their way to the quarterfinals. The Cubs were the top team at regionals.
Junior Josh Schecter (#1 singles), sophomore Kenji Johnston (#3 singles), andsenior Mikael Nefcy and freshman Roqo Gibrout (#4 doubles) all won their first round matches, but then got knocked out in the second round.
Schecter defeated Troy Gargrave from Sterling Heights High School in straight sets (6-0, 6-4). Schecter’s run was ended by Fisher Sutherland from Traverse City Central (6-3, 6-0).
Johnston knocked off Joseph Zilinski from East Detroit (6- 0, 6-1) before losing to Austin Woody of Midland Dow (6-0, 6-1). Woody went on to win the championship for #3 singles.
Nefcy and Gibrout ousted Grant Shaheen and Matthew Kain of Grosse Pointe North (6-0, 6-3) before dropping straight sets to the 1 seed from Midland Dow (6-3, 6-4).
Mondry and Tropea beat Portage Central and then Traverse City Central before losing their quarterfinal matchto Andover.
The day was highlighted with pleasant surprises and some solid victories.
“The regular season didn’t really go how we wanted it to,” senior captain Tommy Fink said. “But we turned it on when it mattered and played a great state tournament.”
Junior Aaron Rosen agreed with Fink on how the team performed during the state tournament.
“The team worked really hard this year,” Rosen said. “We really came together during states.”
