Dow Completes Perfect Season with Another Dominating Finals Performance
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
October 21, 2023
GRAND RAPIDS – Austin King would have been hard-pressed four months ago to come up with a single word which would aptly describe his coming junior season.
But now the Midland Dow No. 1 singles player has one.
Perfection.
King finished off a perfect season by defeating Drew Hackney of Muskegon Mona Shores 6-2, 6-3, at Saturday's Lower Peninsula Division 2 Boys Tennis Finals at the Grand Rapids Racquet and Fitness Club. The win capped a stunning performance by Midland Dow that included sweeping all four singles flights en route to 29 total points, five better than runner-up Birmingham Seaholm.
King, who boosted his career record to 99-12 over three seasons, never lost a single set in any of his 37 wins this fall. The championship erases some of the frustration from a year ago when King lost in the semifinals to finish 34-5.
"I definitely put the work in over the summer, so I knew it was possible," King said. "Winning state has always been a dream of mine."
The team title by unbeaten Midland Dow, ranked No. 1 in the state for most of the season, was the eighth in 17 seasons and second straight for coach Terry Schwartzkopf. In all, Dow had five flights reach championship matches, a feat which didn't necessarily come as a surprise. Dow has seven seniors and all but three players back from the 2022 Division 2 champion.
Mattawan was third this weekend with 22 points, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern was fourth with 19 and Birmingham Groves was fifth with 18.
While Schwartzkopf said every team is different, the current club was marked by a terrific senior class.
"I know we have kids who have as good of records as we've had, but I knew I could count on these guys, no matter the situation," he said.
As for King, Schwartzkopf said it's pure drive which makes him successful.
"He's got the experience, the drive, the determination," Schwartzkopf said. "When he was in middle school, he came up to me and said (his teammates) would bring a state title to Dow."
Joining King as flight champs were teammates Aaron Li at No. 2 singles, Logan Yu at third singles and Nimai Patel at No. 4. Li defeated Mason Crosby of South Lyon East 6-4, 6-1, while Yu downed Gerritt Cheng of Mattawan 7-6, 6-1, and Patel knocked off Dylan Hodgman of Mattawan 6-4, 6-1.
In doubles, Dow had one duo make the finals. But Mattawan's Andrew Williams and Tanner Segraves defeated Dow's Roofy Elsaadamy and Vishagan Karthikeyan 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the No. 1 flight.
While Schwartzkopf praised his singles teams, it was the strength of the doubles flights which helped the Chargers finish on top. Dow's third and fourth doubles teams made the quarterfinals and semifinals.
"We didn't anticipate the doubles teams being as strong as they were," he said. "The singles flights didn't surprise me that much because we were all back in singles. But every team is special for different reasons. You have your ups and your falls, but we have a lot of senior leadership. They've been absolutely incredible and one of the coolest things I've experienced."
William Knoester and Alex Chen of Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central defeated Carson Wright and Sean Joyce of Seaholm 6-3, 6-3, to win the No. 2 doubles flight.
In the third doubles flight, Benji Cook and Nathan Lucken of Groves defeated Mohan Badhwar and Sammy Abdo of Seaholm 6-3, 6-3, in the final.
At No 4 doubles, Leo Kim and Finlay Sparby of Seaholm defeated Austin Rowland and Owen Godley of Forest Hills Central 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, in the final.
King said he wasn't put off by the pressure of being unbeaten as the season progressed.
"I like the pressure. As a No. 1 singles player, you want to be the best and to do that you have to beat the best," he said. "We knew there was a target on our back as a team, but we put in a lot of work over the summer."
Yu won his flight despite severe leg cramps during his second set. After winning the first 7-6, he took a 3-0 lead in the second set. But he was sidelined as doctors tried to get him ready to finish off the title.
"It was really tough," he said. "I won 7-6, but that was as tough as it could be. Garrett played well and I started to cramp up, but then I started to feel better."
(Click for more photos from High School Sports Scene.)
3-Set Doubles Finale Provides Perfect Finish to Marquette's Repeat Run
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 27, 2026
WEST ISHPEMING — The outcome of the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Boys Tennis Finals boiled down to results of the No. 2 doubles match Wednesday at Westwood.
Marquette junior Bode Helman and Conner Dunn put the finishing touches on a perfect season with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over Negaunee’s Vince Tincknell and Marshall Knapp on a sunny and mild afternoon.
Their victory also enabled the Sentinels to retain their title with 17 points.
Marquette was followed by Negaunee with 15 points, Kingsford with 12, Ishpeming Westwood at 6, Escanaba at 5 and Gladstone with 1.
“Having to go three sets made it all the more satisfying,” Helman said. “I thought maybe we’d lose after they went ahead in the third set, but once we got ahead 2-1 it felt like we had the momentum. Our overhead shots worked pretty good. I think that may have gotten them out of position.”
Marquette coach Karl Thomsen believed victories at No. 1 singles and doubles played major roles.
“They came to play,” he said. “They got some points, and winning No. 1 singles was unexpected. The guys saw that and they responded.
“No. 2 doubles was fun for everyone involved. They put on quite a show. Negaunee is so mentally tough, and they’ve been champions for many years. We knew it’d be a three-way battle today.”
Marquette’s Lucas Belkovich took a 6-2, 6-4 decision from Kingsford’s Landon Adam in No. 1 singles, and Winston Leonard and Conner Henry outlasted Kingsford’s Andy Yu and Clark Robb 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) at No. 1 doubles.
The Sentinels also gained the No. 4 doubles title as Billy Krebs and Jack Tiziani topped Negaunee’s William Derkos and Brady McIntyre 6-3, 6-4.
Negaunee won two flights as Nolan O’Dovero defeated Kingsford’s Isaac Lebouef 7-6 (11-9), 6-3 in No. 2 singles and Connor Stede and Tren Emards posted a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) triumph over Marquette’s Elan Chu and Kane Busch at No. 3 doubles.
Evan Grymes provided Kingsford with its lone flight championship in No. 3 singles as he beat Negaunee’s Max Larson 6-0, 6-1.
At No. 4 singles, Escanaba sophomore Kyle Smith rallied past Marquette sophomore Dominic Camilli 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 much to the delight of his teammates and coach Alan Adams.
“This feels great,” Smith said. “I didn’t play tennis last year and just started playing last year. We’ve gone back and forth all year. I was pretty nervous before the match. Winning the second set was huge. I knew he was down at that time, and I wanted to pick up the pace.”
Smith, who sealed the verdict with a lob into the backcourt, trailed 2-0 in during the final set prior to mounting his comeback.
He also fell behind early in the first set, trailing 1-0 on a return shot which sailed too long and 3-0 on a double-fault.
Smith came back to tie the score at 3-3, but was unable to gain the upper hand.
“Having my teammates sitting on the bench was really energizing and our coach giving me pointers between sets really helped,” he said. “I’m also thankful for having my family coming to support me in the away matches.”
Smith plans to work on his game this summer and hopes to play in the 79th Annual Michigan-Wisconsin Open, Aug. 1-2 in Escanaba.
PHOTOS (Top) Marquette’s Lucas Belkovich drives a forehand during a match at No. 1 singles Wednesday. (Middle) Kingsford’s Landon Adam takes to the air to return a volley at No. 1. (Below) Winston Leonard serves at No. 1 doubles for the Sentinels. (Photos by Randy Ritari.)