By BUTCH HARMON
The Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills boasts a girls’ tennis team that is approaching dynasty status.
Led by its doubles teams, Sacred Heart won the Michigan High School Athletic Association Lower Peninsula Division 4 state tennis tournament for the third time in the past four years. Using the same formula it used to win the state title in 2013, Sacred Heart finished in first place with 34 points, followed by second-place Traverse City St. Francis with 27. Ludington took third place with 18 points, while Portland was fourth, Powers Catholic fifth, and Lansing Catholic 10th.
Sacred Heart swept all four doubles flights and also won the title at No. 4 singles.
“We stress that every point matters,” Academy of Sacred Heart coach Judy Hehs said. “The points at first singles count just as much as the points at four doubles. Two years ago we won it the same way. We won all the doubles matches and also won at No. 4 singles. That has worked out well for us.”
Senior Teresa Walawender won the lone individual title for Sacred Heart.
In doubles, Selina Fuchs and Abby Hildebrand won No. 1, Sara Gerard and Kendall Gassman No. 2, Tate Lehmann and Kathryn Monahan No. 3, and Stella Betrus and Sarah Panone No. 4.
Portland was also paced by its doubles teams. The No. 1 team of Payton Lowery and Michelle Dorshimer and the No. 2 team of Brooke Butterfield and Morgan Wittkopp both reached the semifinal round.
Powers Catholic was paced by the No. 1 doubles team of Mattie Milne and Hannah Rahman, which reached the semifinals.
DIVISION 1
Northville captured the Division 1 state title, while Midland Dow placed second. Clarkston and Novi tied for eighth.
Dow was paced by its doubles teams, with the No. 1 team taking first and the No. 2 team placing second. Jessica Brown, Elaina Parrillo, and Hadley Camp all finished second in the state at No. 2 through No. 4 singles, respectively.
Clarkston was led by Isabella Spindler, who reached the semifinal at No.1 singles.
DIVISION 2
Birmingham Seaholm won a close struggle for the state title in Division 2. It totaled 29 points, while Forest Hills Northern was second with 28 points. Marian was third with 23 points, while Okemos was fourth, Mason ninth, and Holly 10th.
Seaholm was led by Lisa Johnston, who won the state title at No. 3 singles. Seaholm also won titles at No. 1, 2, and 3 doubles.
Emily Struble led the way for Okemos, as she won the No. 2 singles title. Monika Francsics (No. 3 singles) and Kylie Wilkenson (No. 4 singles) both finished as state runners-up, while Catherine Wingrove reached the semifinal at No. 2 singles.
Olivia Hanover led Mason, as she reached the semifinal at No. 1 singles.
DIVISION 3
Cranbrook Kingswood dominated Division 3, as it won the title with 32 points. Grand Rapids Christian placed second, and Detroit Country Day was third. Notre Dame Preparatory placed sixth, and Williamston finished 10th.
Cranbrook Kingswood was led by its doubles teams, as both No. 2 and No. 4 won state titles. It took second at No. 3 doubles.
Country Day dominated the singles action, with Haley Mullins (No. 2), Sadina Fadel (No. 3), and Sarah Carroll (No. 4 ) all winning state titles.