BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
HOLLY — Nestled in the northwest corner of Oakland County is the quiet town of Holly.
About the only notable noise out of this burg is the occasional train horn, as the village boasts the intersection of the CSX and Canadian National main lines and double digit trains zipping through the village and adjacent country side on a daily basis.
There is another buzz that has quietly arose from Holly over the years and while not as resounding as a train horn, it comes from the high school’s tennis courts and is powerful in its own right.
Holly’s girls tennis program has become one of the state’s most consistent contingents and has done so the blue-collar way.
“We don’t get many kids with the country club type background,” noted Holly coach Will Sophiea. “But we have a lot of interest for tennis in the community and we always have hard-working kids that want to succeed. There’s a lot of support for tennis here.”
Sophiea’s program has put up some quality numbers over the years and has clearly become the most consistent school in the Flint area over the past two-plus decades.
The 2016 season was one of the best, as the Bronchos collected league and regional titles to go along with a sixth-place finish at the Division 2 state finals. Holly set multiple school records this season
Beginning in the 1982-83 school year through the spring 2011 season, Holly captured 29 straight Flint Metro League titles in girls tennis and would have been 30 if not for a scoring change within the league in 2012, when the Bronchos finished a point behind Fenton.
Overall, Holly has captured 32 of the past 34 league titles, missing in only 2012 and 2014. In both of those years Holly finished second.
At the regional level, Holly has won two straight regional crowns, including scoring 25 points May 19 to win the title on the Bronchos’ home courts to qualify for the Lower Peninsula Division 2 state finals June 3-4. Holly will host the D-2 state finals this season.
Holly, which has placed high at several quality tournaments this season and boasts a 6-1 dual match record, has had one of its best-ever seasons in 2016.
The Bronchos recorded 19 points at the D-2 finals, sent eight players to the semifinals, had four flights in the semifinals and five flights in the quarterfinals — all which are school records.
“A lot of it goes down to seeds,” offered Sophiea. “If you can get some good seeds, win a few matches, then you can get into the top 10.”
The last time Holly did not make the cut for the state finals was 1997, when the Bronchos landed in a regional with the Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills area schools and finished fourth. They have finished either first or second at the regional tournament for 18 straight seasons.
Holly is entered the state finals ranked seventh in Division 2 and recorded second straight top-10 team finish. The Bronchos were 10th in 2015.
Holly’’s best-ever state finals finish came in 2004, when the Bronchos totaled 15 points and landed in a three-way tie for third overall. Over the past two decades, Holly has cracked the top 10 at the D-2 state finals four times, including 2004, eighth in 1998, 10th last season and sixth this spring.
“It’s been a great year,” admitted Sopheia. “The girls set some high goals for themselves and they have worked hard to (achieve them).”
Freshman Taylor Barrett is ranked in Southeastern Michigan USTA for her age group and has become a pleasant surprise for Holly at No. 1 singles. There is also great leadership that came from the Bronchos’ senior class this season.
Seniors Lily Kossak, Michele Major and Journee Kerner round out the singles lineup, while Sydney Renehan (No. 1 doubles), Haley Crimmins (No. 2 doubles) and three-sport athlete Jenna Pepper (No. 4 doubles) have also held lead this squad. Pepper will play golf at Saginaw Valley State next year.
“We have a great group of seniors this season who have become leaders and want to carry on our tradition,” said Sophiea. “This group is like a family. They all get along and when you have great leadership coming from seniors, then you can have success.”