Dow Not Denied This Time in D1 Rematch
June 4, 2016
By Scott Keyes
Special for Second Half
MIDLAND – To say the Midland Dow girls tennis team enjoyed a boost playing close to home Saturday afternoon would be an understatement.
Dow coach Garrett Turner wasn't about to apologize after watching the Chargers win the Lower Peninsula Division 1 girls tennis championship at the Greater Midland Tennis Center. Dow had last won the title in 2009 and finished second last season and in 2010.
“We came out ready to go. We played a lot of great tennis, and we got the job done,” Turner said. “I was proud of what we accomplished seven years ago, and I couldn't be more proud of this year's team. We went out and battled a very tough Northville team and got the win. It's a true testament of how much we worked in the off season to prepare us for this moment. What a year. What an accomplishment."
Dow finished with 33 points to edge Northville, which finished with 30. Grosse Pointe South was third with 18 points, Ann Arbor Pioneer fourth with 17 and Rockford fifth with 14.
Northville, the reigning Division 1 champion, fought hard right up until the final match. But Dow's Caroline Szabo clinched the title for the Chargers by defeating Northville's Shanoli Kumar 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.
The win was redemption for Szabo, who was forced to watch last year's Finals from the sidelines because of an injury.
"Sitting out last season was hard to watch, especially when we were close to defeating Northville," Szabo said. "It was hard not being able to help the team.
"Watching last year, to clinching the title this year, it is pretty incredible."
Northville coach Linda Jones was confident the team would hang close to Midland Dow heading into the tournament, but she knew it was going to take some stellar performances by her team to get past the Chargers.
"To win it last year and to finish second this year is something that has never happened at Northville High School," Jones said. "These girls have worked so hard to make it this far and just miss winning another state title is extremely gratifying to our team. We knew Dow was doing to be tough, but our girls hung in there and fought to the end."
Of the eight flight championship matches, Northville and Dow competed head-to-head in six. Szabo gave Dow a win at No. 2 singles, while Sarah Ismail added a Chargers' win at No. 3.
Ismail beat Northville's Joanne Gao, 6-1, 6-3. Ismail, a sophomore, is in her first year at Dow and on the tennis team. She was home-schooled as a freshman and played in USTA tournaments.
Senior captains Afua Ofori-Darko and Kamryn Matthews repeated as No. 1 doubles champions for Dow, beating Northville's Serena Wang and Maya Mulchandini, 6-1, 6-0 to cap an undefeated season.
Ofori-Darko, a senior, said to end her career with a team championship is something she will always remember.
"I have won three individual titles in my career, but to finally get that team championship in my senior season is just icing on the cake," Ofori-Darko said. "My high school career is now complete."
Dow added another title in No. 2 doubles when the third-seeded team of Meghan Killmaster and Kelly Livingston upset Northville's Reeshma Kumar and Molly Bis.
Northville earned a win at No. 3 doubles when Neha Chava and Sophie Zhuang outlasted Mina Fabiano and Tatum Matthews of Dow, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2). The Mustangs added a win in No. 4 doubles when Brittany Macaddino and Alexandria Petix defeated Dow's Maggie Schaller and Marie Marche.
As mentioned, only two matches did not include Dow and Northville players facing off.
At No. 1 singles, West Bloomfield’s Anika Yarlagadda captured the title with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Raven Neely of Grosse Pointe South. Michi Ota of Ann Arbor Huron won No. 4 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Emily Roopas of Ann Arbor Pioneer.
PHOTOS: (Top) A Midland Dow tennis player returns a shot during Saturday's Division 1 Finals at Greater Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) The Chargers pose with their first championship trophy since 2009. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Morgan Caps Championship-Filled Career as Greenhills Adds to Title Streak
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2025
MIDLAND – Maddie Morgan added the final triumphs to a nearly unmatched high school tennis career Saturday at Midland Tennis Center.
The Ann Arbor Greenhills senior had helped the Gryphons to three straight Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals team titles entering this weekend. Along the way, she had won two No. 1 singles titles after reaching only the semifinals as a freshman.
Top-ranked Greenhills entered the second day of play one point ahead of Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, the No. 2-ranked team in the state. And the Gryphons proceeded to finish the four-peat in resounding fashion, securing the title even before Morgan played for the singles championship against Notre Dame Prep freshman Marissa Bitoni.
Morgan then pulled out a 6-1, 6-4 victory for her third championship at the top flight.
“It was nice knowing we had won even before I started playing,’’ said Morgan. “It was just so much fun playing that last match. Knowing it was my last high school match, that propelled me through it even though we had already won. It helped me. The freshmen and sophomores came through.’’
Greenhills finished with 38 points to 28 for the Fighting Irish. Traverse City St. Francis was third with 20.
Being everyone’s target didn’t faze Morgan.
“I try not to think about it like that,’’ she said. “I approach each match the same way. Do my routine. I just think about the tennis, and I think that’s the key.
“I really enjoy cheering and just being with this team. Individual state champions – they mean a lot, but the team state championships are what really matters to me. … I’m so grateful to be a part of this team environment we have in high school tennis. We had 11 of the 12 back from last year and we lost one senior the year before, so it has been the same group.’’
Greenhills won all but two flights, instead finishing runners-up at Nos. 2 and 4 doubles.
“Our motto is ‘all joy, no fear, can’t lose,’” said Greenhills coach Mark Randolph, who concluded his 31st year as a head coach and 52nd overall. “We knew we’d be competing with Notre Dame, but they aren’t our enemies. This is about relationships.
“One of our great stories is Jessica Shi at No. 2 doubles. She has been around the program for four years but didn’t expect to be here other than to cheer us on. We suffered an injury and we put her in the lineup, now she’s competing in the Finals. That’s a great story.’’
Greenhills’ first champion came at No. 1 doubles as Danica Rakic-Dennis and Shangyang Xia defeated Wixom St. Catherine’s top-seeded Julia Ivezaj and Stephanie Lisch, 6-0, 6-2. The Gryphons pair dropped only six games over four matches on the weekend.
“This was our first year playing together,’’ said Rakic-Dennis. “It was one of our best matches. It was a challenge to work on our chemistry during the season, but we pulled through. I’m really proud of us.’’
Said Xia: “It was one of our best matches. Notre Dame Prep has always been a big rival. We knew that coming to states. I have a lot of faith in our team.’’
Notre Dame’s flight title came at No. 4 doubles as Vanessa Artinian and Elana Vandieren, both freshmen, defeated Greenhills’ top-seeded Meera Pandey and Meera Tewari, 6-3, 6-0.
Maddie Morgan’s freshman sister Hazel captured her first Finals title, at No. 3 singles, as she downed Notre Dame’s Ava Jarvis, 6-2, 6-0.
“I think I played her during the regular season,’’ said Hazel. “It was a good match. I’m proud of our team. We’re doing so well. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this season. (Jarvis) is a great person, and she should be proud.’’
Greenhills sophomore Ellie Kim won her second-straight title with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over St. Francis’ Elliana McClellan at No. 2 singles.
“It feels great to get the second one,’’ said Kim. “She’s a really good player. Her forehand is really strong. I think in the second set I got a little tight. I was hitting more balls short to her forehand. I honestly don’t think I was playing bad. It was a good, fun match.’’
Greenhills sophomore Nina Malani secured the No. 4 singles title with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over St. Francis’ Anna Cate Maday. Wixom St. Catherine’s No. 2 doubles team of Lily Wolocko and Loren Nafso defeated Greenhills’ Shi and Sophia Kleer, 6-3, 6-3 to claim that flight, but Greenhills also pulled out No. 3 doubles as Lauren Ye and Alyssa Hong knocked off Nore Dame Prep’s Erin Delaney and Adriana Johnson 6-3, 6-1 in the clincher.
PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Greenhills’ Maddie Morgan follows through on a backhand during a Friday match at Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) Players meet at the net at the conclusion of another early-round match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)