Local Sports Journal

Most people think of tennis as an individual sport.

But at the high school level it’s very much a team game, and depth means a lot.

Mona Shores city singles champion Michael Kiley prepares to return a shot during the GMAA's city tennis tournament. Photo/Jason Goorman

Mona Shores city singles champion Michael Kiley prepares to return a shot during the GMAA’s city tennis tournament. Photo/Jason Goorman

The Mona Shores Sailors obviously have that kind of depth.

They had players in all eight championship matches at Saturday’s Greater Muskegon Athletic Association City meet, and swept the title in five of them.

That was enough to earn the Sailors their second straight city title, finishing seven points ahead of runner-up Whitehall.

Mona Shores totaled 44 points, followed by Whitehall (37), Reeths-Puffer (31), North Muskegon (27), Western Michigan Christian (17) and Fruitport (7).

Doubles play proved to be the difference between Mona Shores and Whitehall. The two teams faced each other in all four doubles title matches, and the Sailors ran the table to gain their margin of victory.

The No. 1 singles champion was Mona Shores senior Michael Kiley, who defeated North Muskegon’s Brock Dobb in the championship match 6-1, 6-3.

The city title was the third in four years for Kiley, who was the No. 2 singles champion the past two years.

North Muskegon's Brock Dobb reaches the return in the back court during Saturday's singles final. Photo/Jason Goorman

North Muskegon’s Brock Dobb reaches the return in the back court during Saturday’s singles final. Photo/Jason Goorman

The other flight champions for the Sailors were Ben Romaniello and Dan Ribbink (No. 1 doubles), Koby Gossett and Nick DeBruin (No. 2 doubles), Casey Walukonis and Max DeVoogt (No. 3 doubles) and Alex Geft and Kyle Heethouse (No. 4 doubles).

Mona Shores also earned crucial team points with runner-up finishes by James Surge (No. 2 singles) and Destry Follett (No. 4 singles).

The other singles champions were Nick Shanhals of North Muskegon (No. 2), Bobby Tarrant of North Muskegon (No. 3) and Chandler Adame of Reeths-Puffer (No. 4).

Jack Dillivan and Tim Heimstra of Whitehall were runners-up at No. 1 doubles, Matt VanBergen and Alec Milliron of Whitehall took second in No. 2 doubles, Drew Bolles and Jacob Herbert of Whitehall were second at No. 3 doubles and  Jack Zwemer and Andrew Tallquist of Whitehall  were runners-up in No. 4 doubles.

GREATER MUSKEGON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CITY TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Team scores

1, Mona Shores 44; 2, Whitehall 37, 3, Reeths-Puffer 31; 4, North Muskegon 27; 5, WMC 17; 6, Fruitport 11.

Championship round

Reeths-Puffer's Mark Poland serves as partner Austin Carson gets ready for the return. Photo/Jason Goorman

Reeths-Puffer’s Mark Poland serves as partner Austin Carson gets ready for the return. Photo/Jason Goorman

SINGLES: 1, Michael Kiley, MS, d. Brock Dobb, NM, 6-1, 6-2. 2, Nick Schanhals, NM, d. James Surge, MS, 6-1, 6-0. 3, Bobby Tarrant, NM, d. Connor Boyd, W, 6-1, 6-3. 4, Chandler Adame, RP, d. Destry Follett, MS, 6-1, 6-4.

DOUBLES: 1, Ben Romaniello-Dan Ribbink, MS, d. Jack Dillivan-Tim Hiemstra, W, 6-4, 7-5. 2, Koby Gossett-Nick DeBruin, MS, d. Alec Milliron-Judd VanBergen, W, 6-2, 6-0. 3, Casey Walukonis-Max Devoogd, MS, d. Drew Bolles-Jacob Herbert, W, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. 4, Alex Geft-Kyle Heethouse, MS, d. Jack Zwemer-Andrew Tallquist, W, 6-1, 6-3.