Clarkston was not able to capture any of the flight championships at the OAA II tennis tournament, but did manage to capture fourth place.
The Wolves finished with 33 points, six behind third place Troy Athens. Rochester Adams won the event with 48 points. Clarkston also finished in fourth in the overall standings, which counts both the dual meets and the league tournament.
Clarkston Coach Chas Claus said he was okay with the results.
‘We hoped to finish better,? Claus said. ‘We had a few matches I think we could have pulled out. A match here or there wouldn’t have really affected the outcome in the standings, but we would have liked to have won them.?
The No. 3 doubles team of Thomas Beattie and Derek Boatman took second place at the tournament. The duo went undefeated in dual meets, but lost a tough three set match in the championship.
No. 1 singles player Chris Graczyk and No. 2 singles player Erik Maesch each took third place in their flights. Claus was really pleased with Graczyk’s play.
‘He’s played really well lately,? Claus said. ‘He’s on a role and he’s learning to play No. 1 singles.?
Graczyk also reached the championship match at the Holly Invitational on May 13. No. 3 singles player Zach Kerr won the back draw at the invitational as did the No. 3 doubles team.
‘Kerr played very well,? Claus said. ‘He’s started to win matches he would have became frustrated in and maybe lost at the beginning of the year.?
As a team Clarkston tied for fourth place out of eight teams at the Holly Invitational and was one point behind third place Holly. Grosse Pointe North won the event.
Clarkston will now focus on the regional meet on May 19 at Rochester. The Wolves hope to qualify for the state finals, but will face some tough competition including West Bloomfield, Brother Rice, Rochester and Utica Eisenhower.
‘I feel like we can make a run at it,? Claus said. ‘We would like to avoid West Bloomfield in the first round, but beyond that nobody really scares me at all.?