By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
INDEPENDENCE TWP. — The Clarkston Girls Varsity Tennis team is excited to start competition this week following a successful 2024 spring season which wrapped with the girls winning the MHSAA Division 1 State Championship.
Senior captains Leah Geitz and Charlotte Partchenko shared the team is motivated.
“After winning as a team last year, we have a lot of confidence,” said Geitz. “I also think we are just excited for this season since there are a lot of us who are seniors. This is our last year together so we want to finish strong.”
Mary Jo Colonna, head coach, agreed, “they are a lot more confident. I think you girls are more sure of yourselves.”
She added the girls are already closer than last year’s team thanks to Geitz and Partchenko.
Geitz said the close bond helps.
“Since we have such a close bond we just want to have fun,” she said. “Obviously we want to win, but we have developed a relationship incomparable to other teams.”
“We are excited to bond more as a team, really enjoy the moment and not feeling pressured to win,” Partchenko added. “It’s on our mind but also having fun and being in the moment together.”
They added the team has grown with a lot of players returning with the addition of freshmen Rory Hoyle and Ava Robinson joining the team.
“A lot of our girls put in practice hours,” Geitz said. “I think after finishing last season we’ve been waiting for this moment. Even as freshmen, all the seniors knew we were working towards this specific year.”
“A lot of us worked on our mental game,” Partchenko said. “Even in the first week of practice there was a lot more acceptance of our mistakes rather than getting angry and getting into our heads. It was really awesome to see. I feel like last year we started as No. 1 and we weren’t expecting it. There was a lot of built up tension and pressure. This year there’s an overall tone of the environment is more chill.”
Geitz and Partchenko shared they are looking forward to a lot of competitions this season.
“We all like going to Holland,” Geitz said about the East West Invitational in May. “We play a crossover event where schools from the east play schools from the west. It’s a big favorite tournament of ours. We always like to play Eisenhower and Rochester Adams, too. Those are our favorite schools to play.”
“Eisenhower placed second at states,” Partchenko added. “They are probably our biggest competitor.”
The Wolves opened the season against Farmington Hills Mercy on April 1.
Partchenko shared going into the first match of the season the focus is staying calm and finishing the game.
“This year I have decided to change my mind-set,” she continued. “Instead of focusing on what I am doing, I need to be focusing on what my opponent’s doing. Going in I am just going to try to stay calm, focus on my opponent and be confident and execute.”
Geitz added she’s excited for matches.
“The best part of the season is matches in my opinion,” she said. “When our team is together on match days we have a lot of fun. Each match creates a different memory and we have different experiences that will hopefully last forever.”
They head to the Ann Arbor Pioneer Quad on Saturday.
The varsity team hosts Bloomfield Hills on Tuesday, April 8. The JV and varsity B team head to Bloomfield Hills. Matches begin at 4 p.m.
“I am excited and confident,” Partchenko added about the 2025 season. “I am ready to learn, grow as a player and individual and make more memories and have more valuable moments with my team.”

  Clarkston Athletics, girls tennis