Country Day Reign Continues with 3-Peat
June 2, 2018
By Jeff Febus
Special for Second Half
HOLLAND – The Detroit Country Day dominance continues in MHSAA girls tennis.
The Yellowjackets captured their third consecutive Lower Peninsula Division 3 championship Saturday afternoon at Hope College, posting a final team score of 38 points. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood – an eight-time Division 3 girls tennis title winner – was second with 22 points followed by Ada Forest Hills Eastern with 21.
A year after claiming 39 out of a possible 40 points at the Finals, Country Day reverted to near-perfect form as it claimed all four singles flights and three of the four doubles flights.
Country Day entered the day owning only one of the top seeds in the four doubles flights, but pulled upsets at No. 1 and No. 4. Seeded second, Heather Zimmerman and Nina Khaghany pulled off the upset win at No. 1 doubles, defeating the top-seeded tandem of Kate Cao and Amelia Smith of Cranbrook Kingswood 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.
At No. 4 doubles, the second-seeded duo of Anushri Radhakrishnan and Maria Sicilia from Country Day topped Cranbrook Kingswood’s top- seeded team of Simrin Nagaraju and Mia Inakage 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Country Day also won at No. 3 doubles as its team of Maya Nassif and Ruhi Nayak downed Allegan’s team of Delaney Heckman and Maddy Layton 6-4, 6-2 in the final.
“I thought our doubles teams really rose to the occasion today,” said Country Day head coach Jessica Stencel. “We had a couple of two seeds and a four seed, and the two seeds came up with the upsets.”
Stencel noted that the upset at No. 1 doubles was filled with emotion. “We had lost to them two times in straight sets during the regular season, so it was a really emotional match for (our No. 1 doubles),” said Stencel. “They knew they had to play really well to win. They rose to the occasion and didn’t look back. We’re really proud of them because it was the best tennis they played all year.”
In singles action, the Yellow Jackets came in with the top seed in all four flights and held serve. “In singles we had a few obstacles today, but our singles players fought like they have all year,” Stencel said. They’re really talented girls, so it wasn’t a surprise that we came out on top there.”
Leading the charge was freshman Julia Fleigner, who did not drop a set during the weekend and cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over third-seeded Claire Danko of Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the championship final. “She’s a great leader and a top-20 player individually in the country,” said Stencel. “She’s such a great girl, and we’re really lucky to have her.”
According to Fleigner, playing in front of teammates made a difference. “It was great. It’s amazing to work with this team and be state champions together,” she said. “It’s the best feeling. There were definitely some nerves today. There’s a little bit of pressure being here on the big stage, but it’s better to be out here with the team and feeling the support.”
Fleigner’s championship at No. 1 singles came a year after current teammate Monique Karoub won the No. 1 singles crown. The emergence of Fleigner provided Country Day greater firepower but also bumped the reigning No. 1 singles champion down a flight. A junior, Karoub won the No. 2 singles title with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Deena Haddad of Flint Powers Catholic.
“She’s a competitor. No one is going to be happy from going from No. 1 to No. 2 when they’re that much of a competitor,” said Stencel of her junior captain. “Monique also has a lot of respect for Julia. They know each other well off the court. When Julia took that number one spot, she was happy for her but she knew that she still had a big position on the team. No. 1 singles doesn’t get more points than No. 2 singles. She’s a very good sport about things. She’s a team captain. She’s well respected by her teammates. I can’t speak enough positive things about her.”
Despite playing at the No 1 singles spot before, Karoub felt nerves of her own Saturday. “I was really nervous,” said Karoub. “I get nervous coming out here every year. There was a lot more pressure knowing that since I won (No. 1 singles) last year I should be able to win it at a lower spot, but I was able to use that pressure to help me. I just used what my coaches were telling me. We’re a close-knit team, and the support of my teammates really helps.
Also claiming singles titles for Country Day were Elle Hartje and Alexis Nardicchio. Hartje was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Claire VerBrugge of Forest Hills Eastern at No. 3 singles, while Nardicchio was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Avneet Deol of Forest Hills Eastern at No. 4.
Cranbrook Kingswood was the lone school to break through the Country Day brigade, winning the title at No. 2 doubles. The Cranbrook Kingswood team of Sophia Moustakas and Abby Foltyn won a spirited 7-6 (4), 6-4 match over Allegan’s tandem of Emma Phillippus and Nicole Galloway. The victory allowed Cranbrook Kingswood to seal second place in the final team standings.
“It’s always tough to beat a team with an all-star lineup like Country Day, but I thought we competed extremely well,” said Cranbrook Kingswood head coach Steve Herdoiza. “I am happy with our performance. All in all the weekend was a great success. It gives us confidence for next year. We came together as a group and really peaked at this tournament. I think we played some of our best tennis here. We are a junior-laden team, so I think next year we will be full of confidence.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Detroit Country Day’s Julia Fleigner returns a volley during a No. 1 singles match Saturday at Hope College. (Middle) Cranbrook Kingswood’s Kate Cao returns a low shot at No. 1 doubles. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Seaholm Builds on 2024 Runner-up Finish to Become 2025 Finals Champion
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2025
KALAMAZOO – Birmingham Seaholm was determined to hoist the Lower Peninsula Division 2 Girls Tennis Finals championship trophy this weekend following its runner-up finish one year ago.
By winning four of the eight flights, the Maples earned that opportunity. They totaled 32 points to cap the two-day tournament in first place Saturday at Kalamazoo College's Stowe Stadium. The title was Seaholm’s second in three seasons.
Farmington Hills Mercy, which entered the weekend ranked No. 1, finished in second place with 25 points. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (23) placed third, followed by Midland Dow (18) and Grosse Point South (16) to round out the top five.
Seaholm came into Finals weekend with extra motivation after losing a 5-3 dual match to Mercy earlier this season. But the Maples claimed titles at No. 2 singles and Nos. 2, 3 and 4 doubles as seven Seaholm flights advanced at least to the semifinal round.
"Last season's second-place finish left us with a bad taste in our mouth. Our team is young, but we are probably the hardest-working team in this state,” Seaholm coach Casey Cullen said. “We practiced on Mother's Day, Memorial Day weekend and a lot of Sundays this season. This group put in the effort because they wanted to be better.
“We started the year ranked No. 4 and began the season losing 7-1 to Cranbrook Kingswood. Ever since that day, these girls have worked their tails off to improve. This championship is really special and a testament to their work ethic, buying into the program and the result of the time and energy they have put into everything."
Fifth-seeded Seaholm junior Jada Josifovski defeated No. 2-seeded Keira Kirkland from Mercy 6-1, 7-5 in the final at No. 2 singles.
"Jada came in seeded fifth and ended the weekend as a state champion. For her to beat the same girl today that she lost to in last year's Finals really says something about how hard she has worked, as well as her teammates," Cullen added.
Seaholm's No. 2 doubles tandem of Anna Olekszyk and Sophia Arndt was victorious 6-1, 6-1, in their final over Mattawan's duo of Valeria Vega and Addy Copeland.
“Our energy and staying aggressive were the biggest keys in our Finals match. We feed off one another's energy very well," Olekszyk said.
Seaholm needed to win just one flight entering the championship round to clinch the team title. Olekszyk and Arndt provided that win. "Winning state as a team is kind've overwhelming, but I am so happy for everyone,” Arndt said. “We've worked extra hard for it.”
At No. 3 doubles, Seaholm's top-seeded duo of Kate Crowley and Cate French defeated Mercy's No. 2-seeded Penelope Livermore and Reese Sinawi 6-3, 6-4. Crowley and French finished the season 30-0.
Seaholm's No. 2-seeded Katie Joyce and Alina Villaire pulled out a 6-4, 6-3 win over Sadie Wolfe and Ava Targosz in the championship tilt at No. 4 doubles.
"We put a great deal of time in working on volleys, especially with our doubles teams. The goal is to make certain they are staying aggressive and assertive,” Cullen said. “One of my favorite things as coach of this program is seeing how well these girls buy into team camaraderie, the little discussions between points and the hi-fives.
"You can easily say our doubles teams are a big strength for us, but you have to really credit our singles flights. We don't have any seniors at those spots. I have a freshman leading the way there at our No. 1 spot with two sophomores and one junior in those singles flights as well. Getting three of those four into the semifinals was big for us. They gave us that extra uplift we needed.
“Every state title is special. I went to Seaholm and to Western Michigan University, so to win this in Kalamazoo is nice as well."
Mercy came into the weekend hoping to secure its first Finals championship, but fell just a bit short.
"You could say us and Seaholm came in as co-favorites. They are stronger at doubles, and I think our singles flights are stronger,” Mercy coach Daniel Murphy said. “We had a couple slip-ups, and Seaholm took advantage of that and was the better team this weekend."
Top-seeded Lauren Jaklitsch and Morgan McKenzie from Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern claimed the No. 1 doubles crown with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Seaholm's No. 2-seeded Jordyn Lusky and Lucy Jen. Lusky was the Maples’ lone senior.
Grosse Pointe South's freshman phenom and top-seeded Dalina Kokoshi captured the No. 1 singles crown by defeating Mercy's Megan Sullivan, the second seed, 6-2, 6-2, in the final. Kokoshi also defeated Battle Creek Lakeview's Maddy Simonds 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinal round.
"Winning state feels amazing. I'm glad to have such a great team. I suffered a leg injury in the offseason, so I had to put in extra training and my consistency on the court has played a big factor this year too," said Kokoshi, who ended her season with record of 28-1.
North Farmington junior and top-seeded Samantha Karoub won the No. 3 singles crown with a 6-2, 6-0, triumph over Katelyn Strong of Grosse Pointe South.
"(Strong) is such a strong player, so I had to remain mentally tough and stay consistent with my shots. I knew I had to win the long rallies because she can get a big boost in confidence whenever she wins those kind of points," Karoub said.
Mercy's top-seeded No. 4 singles junior Gabby Owens repeated as champion of that flight posting a 6-0, 7-5, win over Seaholm sophomore Izzy Bloom.
"My ability to run down every ball and never give up on any point were key today," Owens said. "We had a great season and became closer as a team and were more energetic and vocal this year."
PHOTOS (Top) Birmingham Seaholm’s Lucy Jen returns a shot during a No. 1 doubles match Saturday. (Middle) Grosse Pointe South’s Dalina Kokoshi connects on a forehand at No. 1 singles. (Click to see more from High School Sports Scene.)