Haslett’s Nate Choi returns a shot Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at an MHSAA tennis regional in Haslett, Mich.
HASLETT – Three Lansing-area boys tennis teams qualified for the Division 3 state tournament Thursday before weather postponed the conclusion of the regional tournament held at Haslett High School. The tournament will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The host Vikings garnered a tournament-high 16 points before the heavy rain hit. Fowlerville qualified with 13 points, and DeWitt pushed through with 12 points. With only eight programs participating, each team needed 10 points to qualify.
Haslett guaranteed itself at least a share of the regional title for the sixth consecutive year. After capturing the regional title last season, the Vikings went on to place sixth at the state tournament, which was a program-best finish. Haslett’s No. 1 singles competitor Nate Choi, who will face DeWitt’s Nick Kleitch for the championship Saturday, believes this year’s team has a chance to do just as well at states.
DeWitt’s Nick Kleitch returns a shot Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at an MHSAA tennis regional in Haslett, Mich.
“Our chemistry has been good,” Choi said. “Also, other teams across the state have lost players just like us, so we have a good chance to do just as well or better.”
The Gladiators qualified for the state tournament for just the second time in school history – the last time coming in 2013. Fowlerville coach Jim Jonas felt confident coming into the year that his team had the pieces to perform well at regionals.
“We only had one senior on the team last year,” said Jonas, whose team missed qualifying for states last season by four points. “When I met with every kid that’s coming back at the end of last year, on our goal sheet I wrote, ‘states.’ Everyone’s top goal was going to be states.
“We knew it was going to be tough, but we also knew it was a realistic possibility.”
Last season, the Panthers missed the state tournament for the first time in 16 years. Kleitch, a senior, said getting back to states was DeWitt’s top priority coming into the season.
“It fueled us throughout the year to not be that team again,” he said. “It’s nice to know that we’ve already qualified going into Saturday.”
Haslett’s Jake Michaud returns a shot Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at an MHSAA tennis regional in Haslett, Mich.
Before the weather delay, the Vikings were able to crown three flight champions. Senior Jake Michaud defeated the Gladiators’ Bryant Martin for the No. 2 singles title. Junior Alex Stanulis topped Fowlerville’s Montana Gillett at No. 3 singles, and freshman Henry Zayko beat the Panthers’ Parker Ricks for the No. 4 singles championship.
Haslett’s Henry Zayko returns a shot Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at an MHSAA tennis regional in Haslett, Mich.
There will be five championship matches played Saturday.
Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.
Haslett’s Nate Choi returns a shot Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at an MHSAA tennis regional in Haslett, Mich.