By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – After a 16th place finish at last year's state finals, the Buchanan varsity tennis team will be looking for a much stronger finish this season.
The Bucks, along with Dowagiac, Berrien Springs, Bridgman and Edwardsburg, opened up play this morning in the Division 4 Boys' Tennis Finals.
Buchanan won the regional crown two weeks ago, while the Chieftains tied for second with Bridgman and Paw Paw to qualify for the state finals, which are being held at Kalamazoo College this weekend.
Buchanan's No. 1 singles player Pablo Campillo will open the tournament against Andrew Gettel of Essexville Garber.
Mario Bonardi drew a first round bye at No. 2 singles and will face Muskegon Catholic Central's Matt Kufta in the second round.
At No. 3 singles, Eric Lentz will take on Portland's Ryan Danielson, while Brad Burns drew a first round bye at No. 4 singles.
In doubles play, Harper Sulier and Taylor Oake will face Collin Hubbell and Chad Erickson of North Muskegon at No. 1 doubles.
At No. 2 and 3 doubles, Dillon Bailey and Andrew Frederick and Sean Thornton and Gabriel Meirelles drew a first round bye, as well as Buchanan's No. 4 team of Andrew Scoggin and Josh Niven.
All three teams advance to the second round.
Grand Rapids North Pointe Christian is the defending champion. Ann Arbor Greenhills was second in 2006 and Lansing Catholic third. Rounding out the top five were Flint Powers Catholic and Almont.
Other schools competing are Armada, Bad Axe, Elk Rapids, Essexville Garber, Grandville Calvin Christian, Grosse Ile, Harbor Springs, Jackson Lumen Christi, Kalamazoo Christian, Kalamazoo Hackett, Muskegon Catholic Central, North Muskegon, Otsego, Portland, Saginaw Nouvel, Traverse City St. Francis and Williamston.