SOUTH BEND — The regionals seem to bring out the best in the Brandywine girls tennis program.

The Bobcats won their seventh outright Division 4 regional title in the last 10 years Thursday at Leeper Park.

Brandywine totaled 23, while second place Berrien Springs had 21. Those were the lone two schools to qualify for the state finals on June 3-4 at Kalamazoo College. You need 18 points to qualify for the state finals.

“It shows how hard our kids work,” Brandywine girls tennis coach Joe Marazita said. “Being able to put six in the finals after losing seven kids from last year I think speaks very well for our program. It usually takes depth to win tournaments. So, overall, I’m very proud of our team’s effort. I thought we played as well as we could.”

The lone champion for the Bobcats was the No. 1 doubles team of  Alyssa Bolen and Rachael Szilagyi, who beat Berrien Springs’ Callie Stoub and Ramsden Holets, 6-4, 6-2.

“They’ve been our igniter all year,” Marazita said about Bolen and Szilagyi, who are both seniors. “They’re just so fast and competitive. They go out there and take care of business. It’s been a pleasure to coach them and all the seniors that we have this year.”
Bolen and Szilagyi improved to 22-0 with their win on Thursday. Last year, the duo placed second at the regionals at No. 1 doubles. The two finished first at regionals at No. 3 doubles as sophomores.

“This means a lot,” Bolen said about the regional title. “We’ve worked really hard to get where we are. We really wanted to win today because we lost to Berrien Springs last year at regionals. I’m proud and happy.”

“This year we helped each other and told each other to stay up in matches and not get upset,” Szilagyi said. “Our mental game affects our physical game.”

Brandywine got second place finishes from No. 2 singles player Emily Erwin, No. 4 singles player Elizabeth Artz and from the No. 2 doubles team of Libby Moody and Shelby Fortune, No. 3 doubles team of Olivia Thomas and Hanna Martin and No. 4 doubles team of Lauren Srmek and Olivia Whitney.

Buchanan’s Keiran Baginske finished second at No. 3 singles.

DIVISION 4 TENNIS REGIONAL

At Leeper Park

Team scores

Brandywine 23, Berrien Springs 21, Lake Michigan Catholic 17, Buchanan 16, Bridgman 15, Dowagiac 5, Coloma 3, New Buffalo 2.

Championship flight

Singles

1. Marissa Jaggi (Berrien Springs) d. Becca Stemm (Bridgman), 6-0, 6-0; 2. Brenna Wineland (Berrien Springs) d. Emily Erwin (Brandywine), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; 3. Keiran Baginske (Buchanan) d. Abbey Stefffey (Bridgman), 6-2, 6-1; 4. Camille Bauer (Bridgman) d. Elizabeth Artz (Brandywine), 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles

1: Alyssa Bolen-Rachael Szilagyi (Brandywine) d. Callie Stoub-Ramsden Holets (Berrien Springs), 6-4, 6-2; 2. Addie Peters-Lauren Osborn (Lake Michigan Catholic) d. Libby Moody-Shelby Fortune (Brandywine), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1; 3. Maryellen Nuter-Dana Ives (Lake Michigan Catholic) d. Olivia Thomas-Hanna Martin (Brandywine), 6-1, 6-2; 4. Hanna Christensen-Andi Ives (Lake Michigan Catholic) d. Lauren Srmek-Olivia Whitney (Brandywine), 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.