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By Olivia Lang and Will Boyce, both ’15 | Features Editor and Staff Writer
The girls tennis team tied for third place and Madie Flournoy ’16 became state champion in four singles at the State Championship tournament in Midland on Saturday, June 1.
“It was a great bonding time for the kids, being together and spending time with the parents; it was a great experience,” said Varsity Tennis Coach Mark Sobieralski. “I just hope that when they get older, and they’re out of college, they’ll look back at some of the most fun times of their lives.”
The units who made it to Saturday’s semifinals were the four doubles team of Kelly Beardslee and Morgane Flournoy, both ’15, Brooke Willard ’14 at two singles, Maggie Sweeney ’15 at three singles and Madie Flournoy at four singles.
Beardslee, Morgane Flournoy and Willard lost in the semifinals; however, Sweeney continued to the final round before losing the state championship match to Clarkston.
Sobieralski is proud of the team’s accomplishments at the state finals, he said. Without any seniors on the team, he said he is looking ahead to next year.
“Just to finish third without any seniors on the team, I’m really happy and excited for next year,” said Sobieralski. “But right now, I’m just going to enjoy these girls.”
Madie Flournoy won her semifinals match and beat out Mercy in the finals. She said she is honored to have played and won.
“She’s one of the hardest workers on the team, first one on the court and last on off,” said Sobieralski. “She’s self-motivated, and from a coaching standpoint, you can’t ask for anything more than that.”
During the final match, Madie Flournoy’s emotions were at the hands of the spectators of the game as they heckled her, she said. Flournoy said that she was called a scum bag, ugly and a cheater. Throughout the second set, she said she was crying to herself.
“I was frustrated because I was letting things that people were saying get to me and I wasn’t playing my game,” said Madie Flournoy. “I was focusing on everything but the match.”
Proud of Madie Flournoy, Sobieralski said he recognizes her vulnerability to the crowd and to how she is playing.
“Madie is like a roller coaster of emotions, one minute she’s up, then she’s down, but when she plays her best and has got that fist pumping, she plays really well,” said Sobieralski.
After a successful season and state championship, the girls tennis team put a cap on the year, leaving Sobieralski satisfied and ambitious for next year.
“When you’re a coach, you can’t ask for anything more than for your kids to have fun,” said Sobieralski. “I love this team.”
Photos by Will Boyce and Olivia Lang, both ’15
