Boys varsity tennis team brings home The State Title

Sarah Weinhaus|November 24, 2021

Team captains senior RJ Carrell, senior Dylan Brown, and junior Nolen Kovan hold the Division 2 Boys Tennis State Championship trophy, before being honored during the football game’s halftime on October 22.

Michael Liss’ mom, Jennifer Liss, hugs senior Logan Edelheit, following the tennis team’s halftime recognition on October 22 for winning the state title. (Emma Schardt)

“Nobody really expected us to win,” junior two doubles player Dylan Wolf said.

The boys varsity tennis team entered the state championship as underdogs, but left as champions on October 16. The tennis team competed in the two day state championship tournament, held at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Fighting for the state title, every flight won at least one match that weekend, and the majority managed to fight their way to the second day.

The boys spent over two months preparing for their most important tournament of the season. Fueling their bodies properly, strengthening the relationship of the team, and practicing every day, while also having matches at least 2x a week.

Varsity tennis coach Dave Farmer acts as the boys’ biggest supporter by going to great lengths to encourage their improvement. Farmer is always at the matches early setting up and grabbing the supreme courts to warm up on, makes sure the courts are squeegeed after a rainy day, and is always there to cheer on his boys during each match.

“Coach Farmer was very encouraging; He’s probably the most dedicated highschool coach in history. He leaf-blows the courts, meshes the nets. I love him,” three doubles player Logan Edelheit, a senior on the team said.

The team didn’t take the opportunity to win the state championship for granted.

“As a team, we did the impossible; we won the State Championship, and when Michael Liss won his three single state championship we clenched the state title” Edelheit said.

International Academy freshman Michael Liss walked off the court as a champion on October 16, after his winning match which earned the state championship title for the boys varsity tennis team. He holds the Division 2 State Championship trophy, before being honored during halftime on October 22. (Emma Schardt)

Junior team captain Nolen Kovan hugs the tennis team’s state championship trophy as his teammates stride off the field following behind him. Senior team members RJ Carrell and Logan Edelheit [middle] are caught sharing a round of applause for themselves and the team as they make their way off the field following their championship recognition during halftime on October 22. (Emma Schardt)

Making unforgettable history, the Boys Varsity tennis team took home the trophy and left the court as champions, in a tight game with a final overall score of 27-26.

Members of the team returned to school during the week and were bombarded with recognition from fellow classmates, and even received a spotlight segment during the football game against Sterling Heights Stevenson Highschool on October 22. The team marched in a huddle onto the center of the field, holding their trophy up high. The stands roared as each player of the team was honored with recitation of their accomplishments during the state championship.