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BATTLE CREEK – The third time was charm. After being postponed twice, the sun finally came out for local high school tennis fans and the annual All-City girls tennis tournament hit the court.
Originally scheduled for April 20, with another attempt earlier this week on Tuesday, the courts at Pennfield were filled with city players competing for bragging rights on Friday.
In the end, the wait was worth it for the Spartans as Lakeview won 2024 All-City girls tennis tournament with Harper Creek taking second.
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Lakeview won the All-City title for the 17th straight time with 31 team points. Harper Creek finished second with 24 points with Pennfield third an d Battle Creek Central fourth. St. Philip does not have a girls tennis team this season.
“Harper creek was a better team this year, they are solid and we had some close matches,” Lakeview girls tennis coach Jeff VanDis said. “But I give credit to our girls, we really worked hard and we are having a good year. So to win our 17th in a row, and keeping the championship at Lakeview, we are really happy with that.”
The competition at No. 1 singles was impressive this season with Lakeview freshman Madison Simonds winning the title.
“She has been a great addition for us as a freshman. She is a great kid and has really done well this year,” VanDis said. “Taking No. 1 singles, and saying you are best in the city, says a lot. There are so many great players who have won the city title over the years, so for her to win as a freshman, is great.”
Simonds outlasted Harper Creek sophomore Mia Helbing and Pennfield senior Vivian Burns, who have both had winning records this year at No. 1 singles, as well as Battle Creek Central junior Bonnie Ferazzi.
“I had to play my best tennis, because the competition was very good. I am very happy with how I played today,” Simonds said. “I was not expecting to have such a great season right off the bat as a freshman this year, but I’m actually really proud of my accomplishments so far and it should only go up from here.”
Lakeview won seven flights on the day. The Spartans’ Sade Blackwell, who was city champ at No. 1 singles last year, won the title at No. 2 this year. Lakeview’s Emmy Ruger won at No. 3 singles and Caitlyn Miller earned a victory at No. 4 singles.
Lakeview’s KaiLani Etheridge/Karlee Gutsue won at No. 2 doubles, with Tiffany Aungsoe/Abby Winer winning for the Spartans at No. 3 doubles and the No. 4 doubles team of Zoe Brizendine/Anya Foljhon also winning for Lakeview.
Harper Creek’s lone flight championship came at No. 1 doubles with Elana Sandel and Addison Woodruff.
Track
In an historic matchup between the No. 1 team in the state and the No. 2 team, Harper Creek fell short in this Interstate 8 Conference boys track dual.
In the first time in recent memory for Harper Creek, the Beavers were involved in a clash where the top two teams in the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association power rankings matched up. No. 1 Parma Western ended up edging No. 2 Harper Creek, 90-73, in a dual at Harper Creek High School on Friday.
“Parma is the meet we have been waiting for all year. It’s for rankings and, more importantly, for a chance at a league title,” Harper Creek boys track coach Larry Quick said prior to the meet. “How often do you have two teams in the same conference ranked No. 1 and No. 2? We have had good teams in the conference. In 2017, Harper Creek was No. 2 and Coldwater was No. 7. Have had other times where it was No. 8 vs. No. 9, or something like that. But to have No. 1 vs. No. 2 is crazy.”
Harper Creek won five events, including Nehemiah Wert in the 100 meters (11.19), Tre’Quon Cotton in the 400 (52.42), DJ Wood in the 110 hurdles (15.30), Mason Korn in the pole vault (12-8), as well as the 400 relay and the 1,600 relay.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Freshman leads Lakeview to 17th straight All-City girls tennis crown