Performance: Pioneer's Kari Miller
June 7, 2019
Kari Miller
Ann Arbor Pioneer junior – Tennis
After a year away, Miller returned to high school tennis this spring and won her second No. 1 singles championship in Lower Peninsula Division 1, capping an undefeated season Saturday at the Greater Midland Tennis Center to earn the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week.”
Miller also had won No. 1 singles in LPD1 as a freshman before spending last year playing national events. Much was expected from Miller’s return to the high school courts, as she’s ranked 17th nationally in her graduating class by Tennis Recruiting Network and has committed to continue her career after high school at University of Michigan. Miller met all the pressure head on and shined, finishing 29-0 with just two lost sets the entire spring. She entered the LPD1 Finals as the top seed at No. 1 and gave up a combined seven points over her first three matches before falling in the first set of the finale 7-5 to Grosse Pointe South freshman Lily Jones, herself ranked 24th nationally in the Class of 2022. Miller bounced back to win the following two sets 6-0, 6-0. Her flight championship helped Pioneer to a fifth-place team finish with 19 points, an 11-place and 17-point jump from 2018.
Tennis runs in the family; Miller was guided into the sport by her father, and her aunt Annie Miller played professionally and rose to No. 40 in the world in 1998. Annie Miller went on to study at U-M, and Kari is carrying a 4.0 GPA and plans to study business with aspirations of a career in finance or consulting in New York City. Her immediate future, however, includes one more year of high school and another exciting opportunity – her sister Reese will be a freshman and join her on the Pioneer tennis team in 2020.
Ann Arbor Pioneer assistant coach Dan Goldberg said: “Obviously it’s a game-changer when you have the best player in the state come back and play high school tennis for her team. For her, personally, a lot of the tennis she plays at the national level is individual. She loves the girls on the team. She loves being a part of the team. That really was the big decision, along with the fact that she’s already committed to college. Her sophomore year she really needed to go where the competition was.’’
Performance Point: “The state tournament compared to all the tournaments I play isn't the most challenging, but I feel like it's different because there's a lot more pressure involved,” Miller said. “There's big crowds and people cheering. So in some ways I feel like it's actually a harder tournament than a lot of the ones that I'm used to playing. ... The girl I played at the Finals is really, really good, and she's a freshman, and she plays a lot of the same national tournaments as me. She ranks really high for her grade. We're pretty even – I knew that, my parents and coaches knew that, and I'm sure she and her parents and coaches knew.”
All expectations fulfilled: “When I decided to play (high school) again, I don’t think I really thought about it. (But) there was actually more pressure this year than there was last year because everyone knew and lot of people were talking about how I was playing again. I just had to try to not think about what others expected. Obviously I expected a lot from myself, but it made it harder for me when I saw what the expectations were (from) other people. It was mentally tougher this year.”
Aunt Annie knows: “I do sometimes talk to her. I don't really see her that much because she lives in Portland, Oregon. But she Facetimed me after the state tournament, told me congrats, and we talked about it for a little bit, how I was happy that I won and some of the stuff that went on during the tournament. She understands because she's done all I've done, and then more.”
Behind the lens: “My life during the school year is basically homework and school, or on weekends I’ll have a tournament or hang out with my friends a little. When I go on vacation, I usually try to bring my camera. … Recently I've been taking pictures of other people – me and my sister will take pictures of each other or together on vacation, but sometimes I take pictures of nature where I am. I haven't had as much time to do that recently, but mostly during the summers. In seventh grade I saved a bunch of money to buy a camera, so it was definitely worthwhile because it's really nice.”
More to accomplish: “Next year I just want to be able to play on the team with my sister. And I think honestly, the one other thing is next year I think we'll be even better (as a team) than this year. Next year we really need to try to win the state tournament. I think we'll have a good chance. I mean, I want to try to win individually again – winning a third time would be nice – but I already won twice. The one thing I would say I haven't experienced yet is winning as a team.”
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
and Perry A. Farrell, correspondent
Every week during the 2018-19 school year, Second Half and the Michigan Army National Guard recognizes a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Past 2018-19 honorees
May 23: Keshaun Harris, Lansing Waverly track & field - Read
May 16: Gabbie Sherman, Millington softball - Read
May 9: Nathan Taylor, Muskegon Mona Shores golf - Read
May 2: Ally Gaunt, New Baltimore Anchor Bay soccer - Read
April 25: Kali Heivilin, Three Rivers softball - Read
March 28: Rickea Jackson, Detroit Edison basketball - Read
March 21: Noah Wiswary, Hudsonville Unity Christian basketball - Read
March 14: Cam Peel, Spring Lake swimming - Read
March 7: Jordan Hamdan, Hudson wrestling - Read
February 28: Kevon Davenport, Detroit Catholic Central wrestling - Read
February 21: Reagan Olli, Gaylord skiing - Read
February 14: Jake Stevenson, Traverse City Bay Reps hockey - Read
February 7: Molly Davis, Midland Dow basketball - Read
January 31: Chris DeRocher, Alpena basketball - Read
January 24: Imari Blond, Flint Kearsley bowling - Read
January 17: William Dunn, Quincy basketball - Read
November 29: Dequan Finn, Detroit Martin Luther King football - Read
November 22: Paige Briggs, Lake Orion volleyball - Read
November 15: Hunter Nowak, Morrice football - Read
November 8: Jon Dougherty, Detroit Country Day soccer - Read
November 1: Jordan Stump, Camden-Frontier volleyball - Read
October 25: Danielle Staskowski, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep golf - Read
October 18: Adam Bruce, Gladstone cross country - Read
October 11: Ericka VanderLende, Rockford cross country - Read
October 4: Kobe Clark, Schoolcraft football - Read
September 27: Jonathan Kliewer, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern soccer - Read
September 20: Kiera Lasky, Bronson volleyball - Read
September 13: Judy Rector, Hanover-Horton cross country - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Ann Arbor Pioneer's Kari Miller lines up a backhand during a first-day match at last weekend's Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals at Greater Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) Miller waits on a volley during her run to the No. 1 singles title. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Preview: Multiple Contenders Set to Pursue 1st-Time Finals Championships
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 28, 2025
In a sport frequently dominated at the Finals level by a handful of power programs, we could see a few emerge to join that group this weekend.
The top-three ranked teams in Lower Peninsula Division 1 all are seeking a first MHSAA Girls Tennis Finals championship, as is Division 2 top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy.
Conversely, Ann Arbor Greenhills returns a significant portion of last season’s lineup as it plays for a fourth-straight Division 4 title, and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and Detroit Country Day are favorites again in Division 3 having combined to win the last 14 team championships in that bracket.
All four divisions will compete Friday and Saturday over multiple locations, with semifinals and finals to be played at the first sites listed below in each. Play begins between 8:15-8:30 each morning.
Below is a glance at the highest-ranked teams in each division and a few more highly-seeded flight contenders. Click for full brackets and more from MHSAA.com.
LP Division 1 at Byron Center West Sports Complex & Grand Rapids South Christian
Top-ranked: 1. Utica Eisenhower, 2. Novi, 3. Rochester Adams.
Utica Eisenhower: The Eagles made their strongest run at a first championship last season, finishing runner-up for the first time and six points off the lead. They are seeded at six flights this weekend with three top seeds – reigning No. 1 singles champion Gabriella Sadowski again at that flight now as a junior, freshman Morgan Emerick at No. 2 singles and junior Alexis Gabriel and senior Alayna Aamodt at No. 2 doubles; Gabriel was part of the No. 1 doubles champion last year. Two more doubles pairs are seeded third.
Novi: The Wildcats are seeking their first Finals team title as well after tying for fourth the last two seasons. Seven of eight flights are seeded with two top seeds and two seconds – junior Rebecca Liu earned the top line in No. 4 singles, and seniors Alice Chen and Rashi Bajpai are top-seeded at No. 1 doubles; Chen was part of last season’s runner-up pair at No. 1. Juniors Kyra Thomas and Samaara George are second-seeded for the second year in a row, this time at No. 2 doubles after reaching the semifinals at No. 4 in 2024.
Rochester Adams: The Highlanders are playing for a second Finals championship after winning Class A in 1987. They tied for eighth last season but enter this weekend with four seeded flights led by top-seeded juniors Joanna Ouyang and Monika Camaj at No. 1 doubles and second-seeded senior Nicole Fu at No. 1 singles. Fu has finished No. 1 singles runner-up the last three seasons, losing to Sadowski in three sets last year but more recently winning their May 8 match in two sets.
Isabella Barretto, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek senior: She’s seeded third at No. 1 singles and will try to break up a Sadowski/Fu rematch. Her only loss came to Sadowski, and she defeated Fu in April.
Rory Hoyle, Clarkston freshman: She missed out on the Wolves’ 2024 team title run by a year, but enters her first Finals seeded second at No. 1 singles and having played all three contenders seeded higher in this bracket.
Other returning flight champions: Charlotte Partchenko, Clarkston senior (No. 4 singles last season, No. 2 this weekend); Nainika Jasti, Troy junior (No. 2 doubles last season, No. 1 singles this weekend).
LP Division 2 at Kalamazoo College & Western Michigan University
Top-ranked: 1. Farmington Hills Mercy, 2. Birmingham Seaholm, 3. Midland Dow.
Farmington Hills Mercy: The Marlins are another team seeking a first Finals championship, having finished Division 1 runner-up in 2013 and placing third but just one point out of second a year ago in Division 2. All eight flights are seeded fifth or higher, with two top seeds and three seconds. The entire singles lineup is back from last year – senior Megan Sullivan at No. 1 (seeded second), followed by juniors Keira Kirkland (seeded second at No. 2), Alexa Dueweke (seeded fifth at No. 3) and Gabby Owens (seeded first at No. 4) – and Owens is the reigning champion at No. 4 while Sullivan was runner-up at No. 1 last season and Kirkland fell in the No. 2 final in three sets. Seniors Penelope Livermore and Reese Sinawi are seeded second at No. 3 doubles after finishing second at No. 4 last year, and freshman Anna Naida and sophomore Olivia Wiljhelm are seeded first at No. 4 this weekend.
Birmingham Seaholm: The Maples have 13 top-two team finishes over the last 19 seasons, including finishing runners-up last season and in 2022 and Division 2 champion in 2023. Junior Kate Crowley and sophomore Cate French are the team’s lone top seed, at No. 3 doubles, but Seaholm also has five second-seeded flights. Senior Jordyn Lusky and junior Lucy Jen are seeded second at No. 1 doubles after winning No. 3 last season, while junior Anna Olekszyk is teaming with sophomore Sophia Arndt on the second-seeded No. 3 pair and sophomores Katie Joyce and Alina Villaire are teaming up for a second seed at No. 4; Joyce and Olekszyk won the No. 4 championship last spring.
Midland Dow: The Chargers won two Division 1 titles and finished second twice between 2015-18 and are seeking their first top-two Finals team finish since that run; they placed fifth in Division 2 a year ago. Dow is seeded in six flights, with senior Tessa Wood and junior Sachi Togashi on the top line at No. 2 doubles.
Dalina Kokoshi, Grosse Pointe South freshman: She enters her first Finals with a 24-1 record and only loss to Stoney Creek’s Barretto in mid-April.
Andrea Wang, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern senior: Last season’s No. 2 singles champion (and No. 3 runner-up in 2022) is seeded third at No. 1 singles with her only Division 2 loss to Kokoshi at the end of April.
Lauren Jaklitsch & Morgan McKenzie, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern seniors: The top-seeded pair at No. 1 doubles is the reigning champion at No. 2, and Jaklitsch also was part of the No. 2 runner-up as a sophomore.
Additional returning flight champion: Harriet Ogilvie, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern senior (No. 3 singles last season, No. 2 singles this weekend).
LP Division 3 at University of Michigan, Liberty Athletic Club & Chippewa Club
Top-ranked: 1. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 2. Detroit Country Day, 3. Bloomfield Hills Marian.
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood: After seeing its two-year title run end with a runner-up finish (four points back) last year, Cranbrook is the favorite again with all eight flights seeded and four doubles players back who won championships a year ago. Five flights are seeded first, starting with seniors Ava Clogg and Chiara Martella at No. 1 doubles; Clogg was part of the No. 3 doubles champ in 2022 and Martella the No. 2 singles runner-up in 2023. Seniors Sophia Kouza and Madeline Day are top-seeded at No. 2 doubles – Kouza a champion at No. 2 the last two years and Day part of the winning pair at No. 3 last season – and seniors Michelle Chen and Jessica Hall are second-seeded at No. 3 doubles after winning No. 4 last year and finishing runner-up in 2023. Senior Katelyn Dubrowsky and sophomore Brianna Giudici are seeded first at No. 4 this time. Cranbrook also has the top seeds at the top two singles flights with senior Chloe Qin at No. 1 and freshman Caroline Liu at No. 2. Qin was part of the No. 1 doubles runner-up as a freshman in 2022, and in her return this fall has lost only to Sadowski in early April.
Detroit Country Day: The reigning team champion will play for its third title in five years and with two flight winners returning to the singles lineup – senior Sophia Grzesiak seeking a repeat at No. 1 and junior Helen Benjamin at No. 4 after winning No. 3 last season. Benjamin is seeded first in her flight, and Grzesiak second. The Yellowjackets’ singles lineup also features second-seeded freshman Chloe Conniff at No. 2 and top-seeded Karishma Vakhariya at No. 3, and last season’s No. 2 singles runner-up sophomore Quinn Norlander is teaming with senior Katie Han – last year’s No. 4 singles champion – as the second-seeded No. 1 doubles pair.
Bloomfield Hills Marian: The Mustangs improved from fifth in 2023 to fourth a year ago as they seek their first team title since 2016 in Division 2. All eight flights are seeded again and six flights third or higher led by top-seeded sophomores Stella Glorio and Lexa Hindo at No. 3 doubles. Glorio was part of the No. 4 doubles runner-up last season, and senior Audrey Agbay is joined by senior Alex Freitag as the third-seeded pair at No. 2 doubles after Agbay was part of the runner-up at No. 3 a year ago.
Additional returning flight champion: Samantha Bieber, Chelsea junior (No. 2 last season, No. 1 this weekend).
LP Division 4 at Midland Tennis Center & Midland High School
Top-ranked: No. 1 Ann Arbor Greenhills, 2. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 3. Wixom St. Catherine.
Ann Arbor Greenhills: The Gryphons are seeking a fourth-straight Division 4 championship after claiming last year’s by 11 points. Senior Maddie Morgan and sophomore Ellie Kim are back and seeded first at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, after winning those flights last year (and Morgan winning No. 1 the last two seasons), and three of eight doubles players also were part of flight champions in 2024. Freshman Hazel Morgan at No. 3 and sophomore Nina Malani at No. 4 round out an all top-seeded singles lineup; Malani was part of the No. 1 doubles champ last spring. Senior Shangyang Xia and junior Danica Rakic-Dennis are the top-seeded No. 1 doubles pair after they won the Nos. 3 and 4 singles flights, respectively, a year ago. Junior Lauren Ye and sophomore Alyssa Hong are top-seeded at No. 3 doubles, Ye having partnered with Malani for that No. 1 doubles title and Hong part of last year’s No. 4 champ, and seniors Meera Pandey and Meera Tewari are seeded first at No. 4 this time. The only unseeded flight is No. 2 doubles with seniors Sophia Kleer and Jessica Shi, and Kleer was part of the champion at that flight last season.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep: The Fighting Irish are coming off their best Finals finish, placing second last season, and they are seeded fourth or higher at every flight with four second seeds. Among those second seeds are senior Erin Delaney and junior Adriana Johnson at No. 3 doubles after Delaney was part of last season’s champion at that flight. Sophomore Ana Jarvis at No. 3 singles, sophomore Gemma Hofley and freshman Regina Carpenter at No. 2 doubles and freshmen Vanessa Artinian and Elena Vandieren at No. 4 also are second-seeded.
Wixom St. Catherine: The Stars are pursuing a first top-two Finals finish after tying for fifth a year ago. Six flights are seeded, led by senior Lily Wolocko and freshman Loren Nafso on the top line at No. 2 doubles and juniors Julia Ivezaj and Stephanie Lisch second-seeded at No. 1. Ivezaj was part of the No. 2 doubles runner-up in 2023.
Mary-Kate Ansley, Traverse City St. Francis junior: The second-seeded player at No. 1 singles reached the semifinals last season as the fourth seed at the top flight.
PHOTO Farmington Hills Mercy's Keira Kirkland drives a forehand during last season's LPD2 championship match at No. 2 singles. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)