For the fourth consecutive year, the Berkley girls’ varsity tennis team has qualified for the 2025 Division 2 State Championship. With such a young team this season, it was quite a battle for these athletes to get a trip to Kalamazoo. Competing against many talented schools at all different flights, the Bears included four different singles players and five sets of doubles that played with their partners.
After many exciting matches throughout the regular season, at season’s end, the Bears competed in regionals at Grosse Pointe South. Regionals determine if the team will qualify for states; they have to score 18 points in total. Berkley scored 17 points, but Grosse Pointe North scored the same. Since they both got the same total of points, they both headed to the Division 2 finals. With many intense matches and lots of competition throughout the day at regionals, overall, the Bears succeeded.
The next step for the team was to travel out west. They went to Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University to compete at states from May 29 to May 30. Flights one to three singles will compete at Stowe Tennis Stadium at Kalamazoo College. At the same time, the rest of the team battled it out at Sorenson Tennis Courts at Western Michigan University. The tournament brought together the top high school tennis programs from across the state in Division 2. On Friday, May 30, the players took the court and competed in the first day of states. Flights one, four singles, and one doubles all won their first-round match. The team battled out on the courts, doing their best despite the hot weather. Unfortunately, no one from the team qualified for the finals on the second day.
The top singles players, Piper Coon, Tatum Saltsman, Lexi Gross, and Delanie Cerensati, are leading Berkley. These players have shown consistent growth and resilience throughout the year. Despite being underclassmen, the singles players have taken on some of the toughest opponents in the division. The doubles teams have also played a pivotal role in the Bears’ success. With strong chemistry and communication, each pair has contributed vital points during regular and postseason matches.
Head coach Waldman praised the team’s hard work and perseverance. “This group has grown together over the past year. They’ve faced a lot of tough matches, and they never gave up. Making it back to the states for the fourth year is a testament to their commitment and dedication.”
The Berkley Bears headed into the state tournament with a mix of nerves and excitement, knowing that they would be facing the best of the best. With all of the experience from the past season, they have learned so much, being able to use these skills at the state tournament and place seventeenth in the state overall.
The varsity team hopes to carry on this success for many years to come. The team will be graduating one senior this year, leaving one spot for future talent to join the team. With hard work in the off-season, without a doubt, this team will come back stronger and hope for a more successful season like this again.
