Local tri-meet showcases Almont, Northern, St. Clair boys tennis
The Almont, Port Huron Northern, and St. Clair boys tennis teams met at the Huskies’ courts Friday morning for an early season tri-meet. As three of the area’s top teams, it served as a great preview of the season ahead.
St. Clair, which finished fifth as a team at the Division 3 State Finals last fall, returns two semifinalists and one finalist to this year’s roster. Senior Michael Mascarin, who was a part of last year’s No. 1 doubles team that made it to the semifinals, is back in the No. 1 singles spot this year.
He swept his competition on Friday, defeating Almont’s Jerry Schurig and Northern’s Charley Dunkel 6-0, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-0, respectively. Dunkel, a senior, is the lone Husky to return with State Finals experience.
For Schurig, a junior, this year has started off with a lot of adjustments as he makes the jump from No. 3 singles to No. 1. He finished his sophomore season undefeated in BWAC play with a 21-12 overall record.
“I haven’t started well, it’s been rough,” Schurig said. “There are a lot of good people, but hopefully it’ll get better soon. It’s just an adjustment.”
He said he’s still confident in the Raiders' chances in the conference, however, with goals to win a title and find success in the regional tournament.
“I think we’ll be pretty good and have a chance to win it,” he said.
St. Clair also swept its competition at No. 2 and No. 3 singles as senior Ian Pinnoo – who finished as a state runner-up at No. 2 singles last year – defeated Northern sophomore Preston Lee and Almont senior Clay Roszczewski both 6-0, 6-0. At No. 3 singles, senior Hadley Schwarz won 6-2, 6-0 over Almont sophomore Nolan Roszczewski and 6-0, 6-0 over Northern junior Ben Beauchamp, respectively.
Schwarz, who plays softball in the spring, has played on the Saints boys tennis team throughout her high school career, qualifying for the state finals the last three seasons. She’ll look to do the same this fall.
“I’m excited. A lot of the boys graduated last year so we have a whole new group, except for five of us, so it’s exciting to see them all grow at the beginning of the season...I think it’s going to be an exciting season,” Schwarz said. “[My goal is] to qualify for states and place. I’ve placed every year, so I’m trying to continue that.”
At No. 1 doubles, senior Tyler Jamison and his brother Alex, a freshman, were quite the duo as they swept their two matches of the day. They won against Almont’s John Hall and Owen Viaene 6-1, 6-1 and St. Clair’s Patrick Mason and Logan Biscorner 6-1, 6-0.
The brothers both said their chemistry and honest communication was key to their success on Friday.
“It’s a blast [playing with Alex]. You have to find the happy medium of helping him out but also not being a coach, we’re still brothers at the end of the day,” Tyler said. “I try to give him some pointers, but I’m really not that good at tennis so I can’t say that much. It's fun and we have a great relationship so it’s a cool thing.”
“[It’s] the way we talk to each other and the way we know each other well enough to read each other, and we’re honest so we’re able to connect that way,” Alex added.
Northern and St. Clair both return to action today as the Huskies are playing in Rochester and the Saints are at Seaholm High School. St. Clair, which returns to the MAC-Red as the reigning co-champion, will start league play against Grosse Pointe South on Sept. 1, while Northern, which moved down to the MAC-White this year, will play its first league match against Utica on Sept. 7.
Almont, which finished second to Armada in last year’s BWAC standings, will look to top the Tigers along with the rest of its conference competition. The Raiders will play in Clio on Wednesday and will start league play against Richmond on Sept. 1.
Full results from Friday, Aug. 19:
NO. 1 SINGLES
Charley Dunkel (PHN) def. Jerry Schurig (ALM) 6-0, 6-0
Michael Mascarin (SC) def. Charley Dunkel (PHN) 6-2, 6-0
Michael Mascarin (SC) def. Jerry Schurig (ALM) 6-0, 6-0
NO. 2 SINGLES
Ian Pinnoo (SC) def. Preston Lee (PHN) 6-0, 6-0
Ian Pinnoo (SC) def. Clay Roszczewski 6-0, 6-0
Preston Lee (PHN) def. Clay Roszczewski 6-1, 5-7, 10-6
NO. 3 SINGLES
Hadley Schwarz (SC) def. Nolan Roszczewski (ALM) 6-2, 6-0
Hadley Schwarz (SC) def. Ben Beauchamp (PHN) 6-0, 6-0
Nolan Roszczewski (ALM) def. Ben Beauchamp (PHN) 6-3, 6-4
NO. 4 SINGLES
Markie Schlanderer (ALM) def. Shayan Lal (PHN) 6-2, 6-2
Markie Schlanderer (ALM) def. Logan Roberts (SC) 6-1, 6-0
Logan Roberts (SC) def. Shayan Lal (PHN) 7-5, 2-6, 10-8
NO. 1 DOUBLES
Tyler Jamison / Alex Jamison (PHN) def. Patrick Mason / Logan Biscorner (SC) 6-1, 6-0
Tyler Jamison / Alex Jamison (PHN) def. John Hall / Owen Viaene (ALM) 6-1, 6-1
Patrick Mason / Logan Biscorner (SC) def. John Hall / Owen Viaene (ALM) 6-2, 6-2
NO. 2 DOUBLES
Collin Miller / Braylon Essian (SC) def. Hunter Vallus / Declan Klassa (ALM) 6-1, 6-4
Collin Miller / Braylon Essian (SC) def. Jacob Rhude / Cameron Douglas (PHN) 6-3, 6-4
Hunter Vallus / Declan Klassa (ALM) def. Jacob Rhude / Cameron Douglas (PHN) 7-5, 6-2
NO. 3 DOUBLES
Troy Pape / William Kasper (ALM) def. Ethan Bumgardner (PHN) 6-2, 6-7 (12), 10-4
Nathan Postma / John Hurttgam (SC) def. Troy Pape / William Kasper (ALM) 6-3, 6-4
Nathan Postma / John Hurttgam (SC) def. Ethan Bumgardner (PHN) 6-3, 6-1
NO. 4 DOUBLES
Hunter Christopher / Owen Hill (PHN) def. Cooper Schapman / Brayden McKinney (ALM) 6-0, 6-1