Lansing, MI. “What a great match and day for both teams,” that was how varsity coach Phil Brillantes summarized the match between the sixth ranked Williamston Hornets and the number two ranked team in the state, Lansing Catholic. The two tennis powerhouses battled to a 4-4 tie.
Peter Sienko won 6-0, 6-1, at number one singles, at 2nd singles Ian Sheets won 6-1,6-1, Brett Graham won 6-2,7-5 at number three singles. At number four Nathan Fedewa lost a very tough match in three sets 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.
The number one doubles team of Bartrem/Taylor lost 6-1, 6-1, as did 2nd Doubles – Frenzel/Bennett 7-5, 6-2 and 3rd Doubles of Hall/Johnson 6-1, 6-2 4th Doubles – Pueppke/McGuire won 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
4th Singles and 4th Doubles were the last two matches out there, and it could have gone either way, but the 4th doubles team kept their composure and was able to finish them off to tie LCC.
“It wasn’t a win, but shows how much we have progressed this season, but more importantly, the players realize how much more they need to work to even consider being state champions,” said Coach Brillantes. “We know we can compete with the best, but in order to be the best, we still have to keep working and never take a win or a loss for granted!,” he concluded.
Williamston, MI. The nine Williamston JV tennis players also fought for a hard earned tie against Lansing Catholic on Thursday, September 11. After captain Billy Schlenke asked for a moment of silence to remember the lost Americans in the 9/11 attacks, the two teams went out and played the six very close regular flight matches.
E.J. VanAllsburg controlled much of the match with his slicing left handed serve, but his opponent at number one singles started to find his rhythm and made a late match charge. E.J. adjusted his game by returning serve and attacking the net pulling out the victory 8-6.
Likewise, the number one doubles team which featured Billy Schlenke partnering up with Scott Evans for the first time this season, surged out to an early lead only to see the Cougar number ones make a late game surge. The Hornet pair righted the ship and pulled out a victory by winning in the tie breaker 7-4. “We had been holding Billy’s serve pretty easily until we were serving for the win at 6-5,” said Scott. “It took a little longer, but we got it in the tie breaker,” he said.
Also winning in a tiebreaker was Richard Kerley at number two singles. “I don’t like tiebreakers because I have been losing them lately,” Richard said, “but when I was down 5-6, Coach Stanley told me I should look forward to getting into the tiebreaker so I could win the match.” Richard won the tiebreaker 7-4.
The number three doubles team of Nathan Clark and Alex Mullen secured the tie with a solid victory. Drew Payton and Ian Campbell fell behind early in their number two doubles match, rallied for a few games before losing 8-3. Matt Silverthorn lost in the number three singles flight to round out the regular match schedule.
Winning in the forfeited number four doubles match were Drew Payton and Ian Campbell and winning in the forfeited number four singles match was Alex Mullen.
“I thought the guys showed a lot of heart today,” said Coach Stanley. “A number of the flights could have given up when they were challenged or got behind, but they fought for every point, stayed focused, and pulled out the tie,” he added. “With only nine players it is really hard to win an eight flight match, but the guys show a great attitude by approaching each match as an opportunity to get better at their games,” he concluded.
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The Williamston Boys’ tennis team traveled to Portland to start the CAAC White Division season. The sixth ranked Hornets battled to a convincing 7-1 win against the Raiders who were ranked 7th in the High School Tennis Coaches poll. “This was a great win for us,” said varsity coach Phil Brillantes. “There are always things coaches see that need to be improved, but I was pleased with the effort and the result,” he added.
“I felt like we won even though we didn’t play our best tennis today,” said junior captain Nathan Fedewa. “I know I could have played better, but we won and we will hopefully build on that,” he concluded.
The Hornets won in straight sets in all seven victorious flights. Claiming wins were Peter Sienko at number one singles, Ian Sheets, making his debut as a Hornet in the number two singles position, Bret Graham at number three and Nathan Fedewa at number four. Also winning were the number two doubles team of Scott Bennett and Zach Frenzel, Andy Johnson and Andrew Hall at number three doubles, and Ryan McGuire and Benno Pueppke at number four. The number one doubles team of Kyle Bartrem and Ben Taylor lost a close two setter.
The junior varsity also played the Raiders at Portland. Winning for the Hornets were number two singles, Scott Evans and number three singles, Billy Schlenke and the exhibition doubles team of Drew Peyton and Alex Mullen. Losing for the Hornets were number one singles E.J. VanAllsburg, number four singles Richard Kerley; and doubles players Nathan Clark, Matt Silverthorn and Ian Campbell.
The Williamston Tennis Boosters hosted the Fifth Annual First Serve Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, September 7. The tournament featured 25 doubles teams competing in a fun filled, and yet highly competitive day of single set matches. The doubles teams match up one player from either the boys’ or girls’ high school tennis teams and a member of the community as their partner. “I just had a blast,” said Teresa Wood who sponsored two teams in the tournament. “I started out playing with Kourtnee Barton, but she fell ill in our first match, Coacher (Coach Stanley the tournament director) found another player (Annie McGoff) to substitute in so I could continue to play,” she continued. “As Coacher says, ‘We play tennis because we can’ and I just loved the chance to meet the team on the courts and play,” she concluded.
“This is a fun way to raise funds to support the high school tennis program,” said Rich Ash, the chair of the Williamston Tennis Boosters. “As both the boys’ and girls’ teams become more successful, the costs involved increase. That is a great problem to have to solve and this tournament is a way for the Williamston tennis community to help out.”
The tournament was won by Michael Sienko and Bret Graham as they defeated Don Topliff and Nathan Fedewa in a very close finals match.
Firstserve tournament Winners
From left: Rich Ash, Michael Sienko, Bret Graham
The Williamston High School boys’ tennis team traveled to Parma to participate in a four team invitational tournament on Saturday, September 6 finishing second. Winning the tournament was the host school Parma Western with 29 points. The Hornets had 25 points. Battle Creek Central and Albion also participated in the contest.
Winning the tournament were number one singles player, Peter Sienko; and the number one and two doubles teams of Ben Taylor and Kyle Bartrem and Scott Bennett and Zach Frenzel respectively. Finishing second for the Hornets were number three singles Bret Graham, number four singles Nathan Fedewa, number three doubles Andrew Hall and Andy Johnson and number four doubles Ryan McGuire and Benno Pueppke. Finishing fourth was E.J. VanAllsburg at number two singles.
The Williamston High School boys’ tennis team has started their season with a series of strong performances. The Hornet’s are 5-0 in dual matches, have won two four team invitational matches, and finished second and fourth in two eight team invitationals. “This is a strong team,” said varsity coach Phil Brillantes. “Most of the guys spent their summers working on their tennis games and it shows. There is a lot of work to do still if we are to reach our potential, but the first two weeks have given us a solid start.”
The first week was spent determining the line up as the players vied for either a singles or doubles flight position. The week ended with Peter Sienko playing number one singles, Bret Graham at two, Nathan Fedewa at three and Benno Pueppke at number four singles. The doubles line up was lead by Ben Taylor and Kyle Bartrem at one doubles, Zach Frenzel and Scott Bennett at number two, Andrew Hall and Andy Johnson at three and E.J. VanAllsburg and Scott Evans at number four doubles. These twelve guys traveled to Petosky for a tournament with Elk Rapids, Harbor Springs, Saginaw Nouvel and Williamston. The Hornets carried home the first place trophy with 22 points. The Hornets brought home championship medals in all the flights except one and three singles. The only negative to come out of the day was a hamstring injury to Peter that forced him to retire from his match with Elk Rapids and miss the next two weeks of the season.
The injury to Peter forced a reshuffling of the singles line up. The line up representing the Hornets in the Williamston Invitational on August 21, put Bret Graham at one singles, Nathan Fedewa at two, Benno Pueppke at three and Ryan McGuire at four singles. The match was very close. In the end, all three teams tied each other with four wins and four loses. The Hornets were able to secure the championship when the number of game losses were counted the Hornets had lost the fewest games as a team.
With Peter’s continuing absence the Hornets had to reshuffle the line up again. “We had several matches approaching against teams we might see in either Regional, and if we work hard, State final competitions and I wanted to try to keep our players in the flights they would be in when Peter returns,” said Coach Brillantes. The line up that represented the Hornets in Kalamazoo at the Parchment Invitational shifted Ryan McGuire and Benno Pueppke out of the singles line up and into the four doubles flight. The Parchment Invitational included a division two school, in Lowell and several teams that qualified for state finals the previous season. The Hornets finished fourth behind Lowell, Essexville-Garber and three points behind Traverse City St. Francis. Placing second in their flights were Scott Bennett and Zach Frenzel at two doubles, Andrew Hall and Andy Johnson at number three doubles. Placing third in the eight team field were Ben Taylor and Kyle Bartrem at number one doubles and Ryan McGuire and Benno Pueppke at number four doubles.
The Hornets completed the two week opening season schedule by traveling to Haslett for an invitational against another eight teams. The Williamston squad finished a disappointing second behind host team Haslett. “You always learn more from your losses than you do from your wins,” said junior varsity coach Steve Stanley. “Some of the flights played really well in the early rounds and then just broke down as the day progressed. These guys will work hard in practice and learn how to maintain their intensity during a long day of tennis. This team has shown the coaches they know how to win, they just have to work on their mental discipline so they can maintain winning strategies and tactics through several tough matches,” he concluded.
WHS Boy's Tennis Team
Photo credit: Jenn Johnson
Photo id: Front row from left: Andrew Hall, Billy Schlenke, Nathan Fedewa, Coach Brillantes
Back row: Andy Johnson, Zach Frenzel, Kyle Bartrem, Bret Graham, Benno Pueppke, Scott Bennett, Ben Taylor, E.J. VanAllsburg
Don’t forget that we have the annual fund raiser for the Williamston Tennis Boosters 2:00 Sunday at the Williamston High School Tennis Courts. Come on down and join the festivities. The teams are made up of one current player and an adult. There will be a BBQ afterward hopefully as we watch the final two matches. Even if you don’t have a partner, come on down and we will figure out some way to earn your donation. The goal is to keep it entertaining yet competitive. It’s not that easy but the tournament director does a fine job!
Congratulations to the WHS Varsity Girls on their Division 4 State Championship!
State champions. Williamston 21 points, North Pointe Christian 18 points, Kalamazoo Chrisitian 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 16, University Liggett 15, Lumen Christi 14, Portland 14, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 13, Niles Brandywine 13, Almont 12, Grandville Calvin Christian 11; Flint Powers 9, Lansing Catholic 9 (12 place); Battle Creek Pennfield 8, Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart 6, North Muskegon 5, Frankenmuth 4, Madison Heights Bishop Foley 4, Traverse City St. Francis, 4, Ann Arbor Greenhills 2, Grand Rapids West Catholic 1, Saginaw Nouvel 1, Bridgman 0, Dowagiac 0, Essexville Garber 0, Midland Bullock Creek 0.
Champions: 3rd doubles-Olivia Green/Erin Donovan (5 points), Finalists: 1 doubles Anya Nikolai/Sarah Vogel 4 points; 2 doubles Sandra Suryak/Katherine Noren 4 points; 4 doubles Erin Graham/Aubree Barton 4 points
Other points: Tiffany Ash (2), Miranda Vorce and Mattie Nelson (1 each). (21 total).
The next meeting of the Williamston Tennis Boosters will be on June 5, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the High School tennis courts. This volunteer organization is key to our successful tennis program. Consider volunteering and helping out the program – come to the meeting to find out more about how you can volunteer. Interested in being an officer of the Boosters? Your leadership is welcome and needed!
The brackets are available here! All the singles and 1 doubles will play all of their matches at MSU’s outdoor courts (weather permitting). 2, 3, 4 doubles will play their first rounds at Okemos then move to MSU.
Hint: If you view the file below on Slideshare, you can do a full screen view to make it easy to read!
The Summer of Tennis 2008 is getting ready to begin! Sessions for community members ages 4 through adult are offered throughout the summer. Read more on the Community Tennis page.