Experience helps lead to confidence and that’s what the boys tennis team is working toward this season.
Eighteen players in the tennis program have graduated over the last two years, leaving this year’s roster full of juniors, sophomores and even freshmen.
“We’ve improved,” said captain Mike Babiarz, who is one of three seniors on the squad. “Going into the season, we had lost 10 seniors, but a lot of guys have unexpectedly stepped up to the plate and have won matches for us.”
Brighton is 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West Division. This includes Tuesday’s 8-1 win over Livonia Franklin in the first of three KLAA crossover matches.
“It’s always nice to get a win,” Brighton coach Jeff Miner said.
The last two seasons, the Bulldogs finished second in the West to Grand Blanc. Brighton placed second in the Lakes Conference tournament in 2009 and was third last year.
“Record-wise, it’s not as many wins as we’re accustomed to, but I’m pleased with the effort,” Miner said. “We’ve had a couple matches we could’ve won, but we’re not quite there at the end. They’re not used to it. We should be able to turn those around for next year.
“Tennis is almost always more mental than physical. They have the strokes, but not the confidence. But they’re gaining experience.”
The Bulldogs have had some close matches in which they lost by one or two points. Miner pointed out that even in an 8-1 loss to Hartland, the Bulldogs went three sets in all five doubles matches.
“This is more of a rebuilding year,” said junior Matt Kempf, who plays No. 1 singles. “We’re looking forward to next season, but we’re playing this one out and we’ll see what happens.
“We’ve actually had a lot of close matches that were decided by a few sets or a few points. You don’t think about it at the time, but you look back and it makes a difference.”
One interesting note this year is the number of siblings on the team.
“We have three sets of brothers,” Miner said. “I’ve never had more than one set before.”
Seniors Phil Bennett and Evan Smith play No. 5 doubles while their younger brothers, Paul Bennett and Austin Smith, both juniors, play No. 3 doubles.
“We’re trying our best,” Phil Bennett said. “I’m in it for the fun of the sport.”
The other set of brothers, junior Jacob Curtis and freshman Ethan Curtis, play No. 4 doubles and No. 6 doubles, respectively.
“In my matches, there’s no pressure,” Ethan Curtis said. “No. 6 doubles never counts, so I’m just hanging on for the ride.”
There has been a change to the format of the KLAA tournament this year that should make it more competitive throughout. Instead of a Lakes Conference tournament and a Kensington Conference tournament, the top three teams in each of the four divisions will hold a tournament and the bottom three teams in each division will compete in a separate tournament.
“We have some matches coming up that we can win,” Miner said. “Hopefully that will give us confidence going into the conference tournament and also regionals.”
Brighton will face South Lyon East in the second KLAA crossover Thursday.