Sports
Berkley Boys Tennis Team Wraps Up Stellar Season
The Bears finished two points short of making their first state finals appearance in nearly 20 years during Thursday's regional competition.
The boys varsity tennis team's bid to qualify for the state finals has ended, but the squad's outlook remains bright.
The varsity boys tennis regionals were held Thursday at 20 sites across the state. One team left on the outside looking in was . The Bears finished two points short of making their first state finals appearance in nearly 20 years.
“Strong play was exhibited by all as they truly showed the best tennis of their season,” head coach Lenny Waldman said.
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Waldman called Simone Merendi’s No. 2 singles match against University of Detroit Jesuit’s Thomas Sheeren the highlight of the tournament for Berkley. Merendi lost to the eventual flight champion 6-2, 0-6, 4-6.
The Bears finished the regular season 8-1 with a perfect 5-0 record in the Oakland Activities Association Blue division. At the Blue league tournament on Sept. 27 at Harrison, they accomplished something no other tennis team at Berkley ever had.
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“Not only did we win, but the cool thing is we went to the finals on all eight courts and won them all,” coach Lenny Waldman told Berkley Patch before the regional competition. “Technically, the guys played twice that day, so they were 16-0, it was a good day. We’ve never had that happen before.”
The team has reason to stay positive. The Bears are bringing back 11 of their 12 starters next season.
"We are optimistic," Waldman said.
