STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS !!!!

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the historic Stowe Tennis Stadium, the Cranbrook Kingswood Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team captured the State Championships this weekend with a decisive victory! With 31 points, CK defeated Allegan -26, Bloomfield Hills Andover-20, DCDS-18, East Grand Rapids-18, and Holland Christian-16 as well as the remaining competition!

8 seniors completed their HS careers at Stowe! Captains, Shannon Mathews, Ashley Leinweber and Danielle Thomasma and their teammates Kristen Neithercut, Julie Jung, Hadley Schreiber, Ellen Moeller and Julie Schubiner. Shannon Mathews finished with a 88-1 HS record, 4 State Championships at 1S, 2 team State Championships, 2 1^st team All-American, 4 all-State, Region, County and Conference awards, as well as numerous national and international citations. MVP award. She will continue her play for Notre Dame in the Fall of 2008.

Ashley Leinweber totaled 2 individual State Championships, 1 finalist and 1 Semi-finalist awards at 2S, 2 team State Championships, 4X all-State, Region, County and Conference awards, and Coaches’ award 2008. She will continue her play for Washington and Lee.

Although Jane Lent came in new to Cranbrook this year as a junior, she is right at home on the team. She really added to the strength or the team winning the Metro-conference, the Regionals, and finishing as a semi-finalist at States in 3S. Her sense of humor and work ethic is a player and coaches’ delight. She is All-Conference and will be the next year’s captain along with fellow junior, Kayla Guthrie! She finished the season with a win/loss record of 17-2.

Freshman, Liz Baiardi won the State Championship at 4S!!! She received the most improved player award this year. She continued to develop her game over the season, winning both the Metro and States! With a critical win over Allegan in the Semi’s at States and then going on to take the individual championship, she helped to clinch the team Championship!

Danielle Thomasma playing with Natasha Dabrowski took the State title at 1D. Playing both 3S and 1D Danielle finished with 4 individual State Championships, 2 team State Championships and, 2 All-State, Region, County and 4 all-Conference awards. Coaches’ Award 2008. Her partner this year, highly anticipated freshman Natasha Dabrowski was coming off an injury, but together with skill, intelligence, humor and an incredible competitive camaraderie, they captured the metro, Regional and State titles!

At 2D, Kristen Neithercut and Julie Jung combined to bring home a critical 2 pt. match in the point total scores for the team Championship. 2D is a difficult position which they met with skill, hard work and tenacity. Over the last years they have had always had a winning season, coming through when needed to capture the critical tournament points. They are won the metro-conference and are 1^st team all-conference and State Quarterfinalist 2008.

3D Hadley Schreiber fought with Junior Kayla Guthrie to reach the finals of the State Championships. Hadley is the 2008 recipient of the Luella Hauser Tennis Cup for the young woman most exemplifying the Cranbrook Kingswood ideals. Her intelligence, generosity, commitment, skill, sportsmanship and grace make her the ideal recipient for this award. They are also Metro Conference Champions, Regional Champions and State Finalists. Kayla, always a pleasure, will continue at Cranbrook as a captain next year. Her transition from a singles player to a doubles player has rounded out her game and been exciting to watch.

4D team of Ellen Moeller and Julie Schubiner fought to the semi-finals of this year’s State Championships. They played with courage and aggression to meet the challenge of a very difficult team in the quarters advancing to the semi’s and giving us points needed to win. We will miss their quiet determination to succeed. They finished with an outstanding season record of 19-3, as Metro Conference Champions, Regional Champions and as State Semi-finals medalists.

Rounding out the team was a tremendous supporting cast of very promising freshmen, Rachael Hubers. Caroline Shinkle and Sammy Bowers and sophomores, Jourdan Gariepy and Meagan Davis. We have great hopes for them in the future. Cranbrook tennis looks to be in good hands.

Season record: 11-1 Team Scholar Athletes Award: Ave. weighted GPA of 3.98

GPN Tournament Champions

Marian Tournament Champions

Metro Conference Champions

GPS Tournament 2^nd place (to GPS)

Regional Champions

State Champions

All State Selections: Shannon Mathews, Ashley Leinweber, Danielle Thomasma, Natasha Dabrowski.

Individual State Champions: 1S Shannon Mathews (12)

4S Liz Baiardi (9)

1D Danielle Thomasma (12) and Natasha Dabrowski (9)

Individual State Finalists: 2S Ashley Leinweber (12)

3D Hadley Schreiber (12) and Kayla Guthrie (11)

Individual St. Semi-Finalists: 3S Jane Lent (11)

4D Ellen Moeller (12) and Julie Schubiner (12)

Individual St Quarter-Finalists: 2D Kristen Neithercut (12) and Julie Jung (12)

Completing the team: Rachael Huber (9), Sammy Bowers (9) Caroline Shinkle (9) Meagan Davis (10) and Jourdan Gariepy (10)