By Wendi Reardon Price
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Wolves are gearing up for their post-season with the MHSAA Boys Tennis Division 1 Regional 6 meet on Thursday.
“It will be fairly tough competition for us,” said Clarkston Boys Varsity Tennis Head Coach Chas Claus. “Bloomfield Hills is in our region and they are, from what I have talked to with most coaches, the best team in high schcool right now. Then Rochester and Rochester Adams are both very good as well. It will be a tough challenge for us. We have played all those teams and we have played a very tough schedule on purpose. We will see if we can pull off some surprises.”
The Wolves host the regional meet on Thursday at 9 a.m. Teams also competing for the top spots to advance to the state championship include Lake Orion, Oxford, Waterford Mott and West Bloomfield.
Clarkston competed against Berkley on Thursday, Sept. 22. They finished in a 4-4 tie. Berkley won the tiebreaker winning 10 sets.
“It went quite well,” said Claus. “We did relatively well at most flights. It’s encouraging as we build momentum going to the finish line for the year.”
For Singles, Blake Botterill defeated Alex Beard on Singles No. 1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; and Owen Lamz defeated Jonah Wolfe on Singles No. 4, 7-5, 6-1.
Claus added though Ethan Banyas lost on Singles No. 3 court he played well.
“He battled a kid with comparable talent extremely close,” he said. “I was pleased with his performance.”
For Doubles, Ryan Snudden and Evan Banyas defeated Ossie Cierpial and E.J. Tyszka on Doubles No. 1, 7-6, 6-2.
Jose DeNigris and Lane Robison defeated Riley Shafritz and Jacob Dokho on Doubles No. 2, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.
“Lane and Jose did really well despite slow start,” Claus said. “They really dug in. they had a great second and third set. They won with the pressure on late. I was proud of that win.
“My four singles and one doubles have been my most dependable flights. They have been taking care of business for the most part.”
Clarkston was set to play Troy Athens last week but postponed to Tuesday, Oct. 4.
“It’s another good team and a league above us,” said Claus.
The regional meet on Thursday begins at 9 a.m. at Clarkston High School.

  Clarkston Boys Varsity Tennis, Tennis