Mt. Pleasant rolls into Division 2 state finals

Second state-final appearance in program history, second appearance since 2021.

The Mt. Pleasant girls tennis team will compete in the Division 2 State Finals in Midland on Friday and Saturday looking to make a run at the state title.

It is the Oilers’ second-ever appearance in the State Finals and first since 2021 when they tied for 15th in the D2 seasonfinale.

Mt. Pleasant went 8-4-2 in head-to-head duals this season and finished fourth in the ubertough Saginaw Valley League. The Oilers finished third in regionals, yet fielded 18 points to lock up an automatic statefinal berth. Midland won the regional a couple weeks back while Flushing was second.

“We’re going to try and get as many points as we can,” said long-time Mt. Pleasant tennis coach Greg Wendrow.

On paper the Oilers have numerous tough draws going in, yet could move into the top-10 by playing up to their potential.

At No. 1 singles Mt. Pleasant senior Jaylin Ruhle (11-11) takes on East Lansing’s Leah Wronikowski in her opener Friday while junior Clara Bonnell (212) faces Wyandotte Roosevelt’s Ava Ball in her opener at No. 2 singles.

Bonnell won the regioal championship with a 6-0, 6-1 sweep over Saginaw Heritage’s Caroline Rifkin.

In No. 3 singles action Oiler junior Jillian Matyorauta (11-10) faces Wyandotte Roosevelt’s Ryley Tornowski while junior Allison Lindstrom (16-8) squares off versus St. Joseph’s Violet Waters in No. 4 singles.

At No. 1 doubles Mt. Pleasant’s Lily Burkhart and Isabel Goodrich (20-3) take on East Grand Rapids’ Ava Godlewski and Reiley Hoefer.

Burkhart and Goodrich were also regional champions.

They swept Flushing’s Anya and Ava by final scores of 6-3, 6-2.

The Oilers’ Paige Sian and Lauren Haft (15-7) take on Grosse Pointe North’s Lauryn Rendzikowski and Mya Jacson.

At No. 3 doubles Mt. Pleasant’s Amy Jensen and Savannah Scott (12-9) face Grosse Pointe South’s Libby Shefferley and Mimi Mager.

In fourth doubles Oilers Willow Gott and Addison Kock (168) take on Grosse Pointe South’s Grace Vollmer and Grace Curtis.

Gott and Kock finished second at the regional tourney, falling to Midland in the final.

For the season the Oilers started slowly, yet surged late to secure the spot in the finale. They are one of 26 teams competing in the D2 final.

COURTESY PHOTO Mt. Pleasant will compete in the Division 2State Tennis Finals in Midland this weekend. It’s the second-ever appearance in the state finals for the Oilers. They qualified by finishing third in the regional tournament at Midland with a 18 points behind host Midland and Flushing.