Historic tennis as Holland Christian, Holland, Zeeland West, Hamilton all make state

HOLLAND - In a stunning performance on the regional tennis courts, four local teams are headed to the state tournament.

It was a historical day for tennis at Holland High School as Holland Christian, Holland, Zeeland West and Hamilton all qualified for the Division 2 state tournament. In addition Zeeland East's No. 1 singles player Brady Schanski qualified as an individual.

The Maroons won the regional title with 21 points to top the field. Zeeland West finished second with 11 points to earn the second automatic qualifier. Ten points gets teams in as well even if they are not first or second, so Holland and Hamilton each finished tied for third with 10 points to qualify as well.

"It was unbelievable. Any time you can win a regional title, it is a huge accomplishment for your program. But to do it at home and have the local teams all qualify with us and represent West Michigan with such a strong group of teams was really cool," Holland Christian coach Steve Gorno said.

Holland Christian has been to the state tournament most of the years in the past two decades.

For Zeeland West, the state tournament bid is a first in school history, while Holland and Hamilton ended qualifying droughts.

More:Zeeland West celebrates first ever trip to state tournament

"It means so much. You look at how programs build over time," Zeeland coach Lance McKinney said.

If West Ottawa qualifies at the Division 1 regional on Thursday, then all six local teams will be represented for the first time in area history. As it remains, this is the first time four local teams ever qualified from the same regional and first time five local teams at a regional have sent at least an individual to state in the same year.

The Holland boys program was once a dominant force, the Dutch being a perennial state tournament qualifier for the better part of four decades.

But in recent years, the Dutch have been extremely close, despite all-state top singles players and a year of undefeated play at No. 1 doubles.

The state tournament has eluded them, however, until Wednesday when the Dutch qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2005.

"It is one of those few moments where I have been speechless," Holland coach Kyle Kreps said. "It has been a goal for so long for so many teams when I played and when I coached. It is still kind of crazy. We went in knowing that we were looking at eight points but there were five matches we had a legit shot at and we did it with a team effort. It was a pretty special day, one I won't forget."

Hamilton made it for the first time since 2015.

"This is a huge accomplishment for our program. We have worked very hard to get back to the state finals," Hamilton coach Steve Lubbers said. "It was a great day with the four local teams qualifying."

At No. 1 singles, Holland Christian's Tucker Heneghan won the regional title, defeating Zeeland East's Brady Schanski 6-1, 6-2 in the finals. Schanski qualified as an individual for making the regional final at No. 1 singles.

Hamilton's Jackson Miller won the flight championship at No. 2 singles, defeating Zeeland West's Nick Lloyd 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in the finals.

At No. 3 singles, Holland Christian's Josh Dawson defeated Hamilton's Liam Kelley 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the finals.

At No. 4 singles, Holland Christian's Dylan Becksvoort defeated Holland's James Baer 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the duo's second three-set match of the season.

In doubles, Holland Christian's Simon Langejans-Henry Langejans avenged an earlier loss to beat Holland's Sam Payne-Elliot Wehrmeyer 6-2, 6-1 in the finals.

"They turned the tables on Holland in the finals and played really well," Gorno said. "Our 3-4 singles players also came through with some huge three-set wins in the finals."

At No. 2 doubles, Holland Christian's Mitchell Boerman-Tryg Tanis defeated Holland's Emmett Book-Oscar Miller 6-0, 6-3 in the finals.

At No. 3 doubles, Zeeland West's Diego Mendoza-Max Settlemyre defeated Holland Christian's Jackson Engbers-Tyler Hemmeke 7-5, 6-1 in the finals.

At No. 4 doubles, Holland Christian's Hayden Bauman-Evan Disselkoen defeated Holland's Harper Prutch-Owen Baer 6-1, 6-1.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.