UTICA — Gabby Sadowski could have followed a trend after winning last season’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals championship at No. 1 singles.

Over the years, winning an individual Finals title as an underclassmen – of simply having great success – has been a jumping off point for top players to move on from high school tennis and focus on the junior circuit. An example: Three members of last year’s Clarkston lineup that won the Lower Peninsula Division 1 team title — including two Finals flight champions — decided to skip this high school season to play juniors.

Since Sadowski won the individual title at No. 1 singles last spring as a sophomore for Utica Eisenhower, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see her do the same. 

But perhaps in an even more surprising development, Sadowski is instead again holding down the Eagles’ top singles spot.

“All of my life, I’ve been playing USTA tennis individually,” Sadowski said. “Being able to play high school on a team is something I’ve really enjoyed over the years.”

This spring, so far, is probably the most enjoyable Eisenhower girls tennis has ever had. 

Not only is Sadowski back and dominating, but the Eagles for the first time are ranked No. 1 in Division 1 and primed to follow up their first-ever Finals runner-up finish last year with a march to a championship in two weeks. 

Leading the way is Sadowski, who is simply a generational talent for the program. 

“It’s said in tennis that it takes 10,000 hours to earn proficiency,” said Eisenhower co-coach Kevin Donahue. “Gabby is one of those few people at 20 hours a week and 10 hours of tennis, it would put her at 10,000 hours. Strength training, stretching, speed work and the hitting sessions. She’s dedicated as an athlete.”

The bug for tennis bit Sadowski early. She said she started playing at age 3 and competing in USTA junior events when she was 8. 

As was the case with many young tennis players, Sadowski said she idolized Serena Williams. 

“I think my game is similar to hers,” Sadowski said. “I think the way we both are really aggressive and looking to attack the ball.”

There are many good traits Sadowski has on the court, but Eisenhower co-coach Mike Pierson points to a few in particular.

“I’d say her ability to take a swing and volley separates her from other players, to be able to put it away” he said. “Just her mental toughness also.

“As far as coaching her, half the time we are talking about forehand cross battles, bringing your targets with the wind, or maybe telling her a joke to calm her down a little bit.”

Sadowski already has her college future planned out, as she has committed to Purdue. In addition to the tennis program, Sadowski — an animal over, particularly of cats — was drawn to West Lafayette, Ind., for its microbiology and veterinary medicine programs. 

For the rest of this season, the goal for Sadowski and Eisenhower is to capitalize on what might be a once-in-a-lifetime team title opportunity. 

Sadowski is certainly not all Eisenhower will rely on in that pursuit. 

Freshman No. 2 singles player Morgan Emerick entered Regional play today 30-1 on the season, while the doubles teams of senior Alayna Aamodt and junior Alexis Gabriel, and sophomores Kara Lu and Maria Khami, are both undefeated. 

Eisenhower likely will enter the Division 1 Finals in Byron Center as the favorite. 

And if they are successful, it will surely further validate Sadowski’s decision to return to her high school team for another year.

“It would just mean a lot to all of us,” Sadowski said, “with all the work we’ve put in.”

Keith Dunlap has served in Detroit-area sports media for more than two decades, including as a sportswriter at the Oakland Press from 2001-16 primarily covering high school sports but also college and professional teams. His bylines also have appeared in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Houston Chronicle and the Boston Globe. He served as the administrator for the Oakland Activities Association’s website from 2017-2020. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Utica Eisenhower’s Gabby Sadowski lines up a backhand during last season’s Division 1 No. 1 singles championship match against Rochester Adams’ Nicole Fu. (Middle) Sadowski, right, and Fu approach the net after the match is complete. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)