The following is a summary history of the TCSF Gladiator Tennis Program
Mary Walters Launches Varsity Tennis at TCSF
In 1990, Mary Walter’s was working as a teaching pro at the tennis and racquet club in Traverse City, the site of the current YMCA across from Logan’s Landing. Some of her students attended Traverse City Saint Francis high school and they did not offer tennis as a varsity sport. Mary offered to start up a new varsity tennis program and got approval from the school’s athletic director at that time. She launched the program with the girls season in the fall of 1991. Until 2006, girls tennis was always played in the fall and boys tennis was a spring sport. That first year the girls played a ten event season, playing mostly local area teams, and ended the season with a 3-5 record in duals. In the spring of 1992, Mary launched the boys varsity program to much excitement by the boys. The #1 singles player was a senior foreign exchange student from the newly independent Estonia, a part of the soviet union. The team played eleven duals that year, going 9-3 while playing mostly local teams. The team placed 3rd at the regional tournament and overall had a great first year. The program blossomed and grew under Mary’s leadership where the boys team constantly placed in the top four spots at regionals. During 1992-1993 the team was led by Paul Schmude at #1 singles. Mary continued to work with the boys and help them develop their games. With much time and commitment, her team developed. During the 1994-1995 spring season, led by #1 singles player and captain, Jim Francisco, the team won their first regional championship beating Harbor Springs and Charlevoix who tied for second place. Jim won regionals at #1 singles along with Jason Pratt at #2 singles and the #3 doubles team of Jim Reardon and Bill Kaupas. There was no four doubles back in those days. The boys went on to participate at states for the first time in the school’s history. The only team that managed a win at states was the #3 doubles team and they ended the event at in a four way tie for 11th place with two points. The following year Mary added several new players, one of which was Dan Spalla. In doing so she picked up an unexpected addition, Dan’s father Don Spalla, who became an invaluable assistant to the program. The 1995-1996 team, lead by their #1 singles player, sophomore Jason Pratt, went on to win regionals beating out Harbor Springs 16 points vs 14 points. Regional champions included Greg Doherty at #2 singles, the team of Nick Vanstratt and Jon Carlson at #2 doubles and the team of Pat Hornung, Levi Truelove at #3 doubles. At states the team went on to win only two points, one point at both #2 and #3 doubles. They ended the tournament in a seven way tie for 8th place.
Few few of the top players graduated that year and the 1996-1997 varsity team continue to dominate in the region. Jason Pratt continued to lead the team as the #1 singles player going on to win conferences (the first time a conference tournament was held) and regionals. They beat out Leland who was runner up that year, 16 points to 13 points. Regionals Champions included Greg Doherty at #2 singles and all three of the doubles teams . These teams included Nick Vanstratt and Jon Carlson at #1 doubles, Matt Day and Dan Spalla at #2 doubles and Joe Sanok and Bill McIntyre at #3 doubles. At states the team won a single point at both #2 singles and #1 doubles and ended the tournament tied for 13th with two points.
Mary Walters-Harrigan stepped down as the boys varsity tennis coach after the 1996-1997 season and Tak Ready, I teacher at the SF high school took over as head coach. He relied heavily on Don Spalla, his assistant coach, to run practices and handle much of the coaching. During the 1997-1998 season, almost the entire team returned and the result was an incredibly successful season. The team had a 14-1 record in duals, won conferences, won a regional championship and went on to states. At States the team received 2 points and was tied for 16th place. Jason Pratt won one match at #1 singles and Greg Doherty won one match at #2 singles.
Mary Walters-Harrigan returned to coaching the boys varsity tennis program the next year, 1998-1999, after her one year hiatus. The previous spring, a large number of players graduated, really impacting the program. In fact, the team was made up mostly of freshman that year. Dan Spalla, the one returning senior, decided to play baseball rather than tennis. These and other factors, caused the tennis program to experience a precipitous down turn. The team ended the year 4th at conferences and 7th in the region. From 1998-2003 the boys varsity tennis program did not win another conference or regional title. However, Mary received the regional coach of the year award in 2002 in honor of her achievements to date.
Although Mary’s focus and attention began to be redirected in other areas of her life, in the spring of the 2003-2004 season, Mary lead another outstanding boys tennis team to a conference and regional championship. There was a great turn out for tennis in the spring of 2004 led by two brothers from a big tennis family and four new tennis courts at SEAS. In fact, with twenty players playing for TCSF, it was the first time the school fielded a partial JV team. The varsity team consisted of 9 boys and one girl, Lydia Wiley. Lydia was a transfer student from TC Christian and had missed the girls season. The team went on to earn four points at states and end in 17th place out of 22 teams. At #1 singles, Philippe Giscard d’Estaing earned a point along with Patrick Giscard d’Estaing at #2 singles. Brett Milliman, at #3 singles, earned two points. Mary retired from her role as varsity coach for a second time after the spring 2004 season. Mary had an incredible thirteen year tenure, interrupted by only one year off, and should be viewed as the original driving force for the introduction of tennis at Saint Francis high school.
The following year, 2004-2005 season, Tom Hardy, the school’s athletic director, took on the job of coaching boys tennis on a temporary basis. Annie Murphy agreed to be his assistant coach and help him during his inaugural coaching season. Tom knew very little about tennis and relied heavily on Annie’s knowledge of the game. Tom really enjoyed working with the boys and had a very respectable season winning conferences. At regionals, the team earned enough points to make it to states. However, at the end of the last match of the day, one of the Saint Francis players got upset and hit his ball over the fence in a fit of anger. Tom, as regional tournament director that year, penalized the team a point, causing them to no longer qualify for states. However, Philippe Giscard d’Estaing did attend states as a #1 singles player since he was the finalist. Philippe was an amazing singles player and had a 19-2 record leading into regionals, however, he injured his thumb, which led to losses at both Regionals and States. While Philippe lead the team for four years at #1 singles, his brother played #2 singles right behind him with a record of 21-3 on the year. Both brothers made it on that year’s Tennis Dream Team.
Tom Hardy’s One Year Tenure
The following year, 2004-2005 season, Tom Hardy, the school’s athletic director, took on the job of coaching boys tennis on a temporary basis. Annie Murphy agreed to be his assistant coach and help him during his inaugural coaching season. Tom knew very little about tennis and relied heavily on Annie’s knowledge of the game. Tom really enjoyed working with the boys and had a very respectable season winning conferences. At regionals, the team earned enough points to make it to states. However, at the end of the last match of the day, one of the Saint Francis players got upset and hit his ball over the fence in a fit of anger. Tom, as regional tournament director that year, penalized the team a point, causing them to no longer qualify for states. However, Philippe Giscard d’Estaing did attend states as a #1 singles player since he was the finalist. Philippe was an amazing singles player and had a 19-2 record leading into regionals, however, he injured his thumb, which led to losses at both Regionals and States. While Philippe lead the team for four years at #1 singles, his brother played #2 singles right behind him with a record of 21-3 on the year. Both brothers made it on that year’s Tennis Dream Team.
The Annie Murphy Years
Annie took over as head coach the following year and quickly grew the program. At the same time, Paul Bandrowski and his family relocated to Travrse City with five children interested in tennis so got permission to start a junior high program the same year Annie began as head coach. In the spring of 2006, the team ended 2nd place at Regionals. At States the team earned two points, ending the tournament 18th out of 19 teams. The flight that earned two points that year was the #4 doubles team of Ryan White & David Eddington. The next year, the 2006-2007 team consisted of eleven seniors and a total of 20 players. This was almost enough players for a full JV team. The team won regionals with the help of three regional doubles champions including Blane Casciano & Bryan Currie, Ben Weelock & Mike Kowalski and Ryan White & David Eddington. Ben Schippers also won at #2 singles. At states, the team ended with five points and tied three other schools for 14th place out of 27 teams.
The 2006-2007 season was the last year boys tennis was played in the spring. Due to a title nine lawsuit by a girls volleyball player, the seasons were switched. Therefore, the boys played the following fall for the 2007-2008 season never taking a break from tennis.
The girls ended up having two wait eighteen months to play tennis. In the fall of 2007, there were twenty players on the team. All three of the new freshman had played SEAS tennis the prior year, in 8th grade, and were ready for high school tennis. The 2007-2008 fall team won conferences and were second in regionals with 20 points, loosing to Harbor Springs with 23 points. Ben Schippers was the sole regional champion for the team at #3 singles. This was after being out for the first half of the season with a torn tendon. At states, this team earned five points and tied five other schools for 14th place. Also, in 2007-08 we had over 20 boys playing tennis in the SEAS junior high program.
During the 2008-2009 season there were so many players interested in high school tennis that Annie formed a JV team for the second time in the school’s history, and for the first time fielded a full JV roster. Every member of the team earned both the conference and regional championship, other than #1 singles. At the state finals, the 2008-2009 team went on to earn 12 points and took 7th place out of 19 teams. Will Elliott, at #2 singles and the team of Chris Miller and Josh Quinlan at #4 doubles were selected for the northern Michigan dream team. In addition, Annie Murphy received regional coach of the year and was selected the dream team coach.
In the fall of 2009, the team set a goal of being in the top five in the state. After a lot of hard work and a great season, the team reached the highest level of success in the history of TCSF tennis that continues to stand as the tennis program by which all other seasons have been measured. Lead by Mac Hughes at #1 singles and Sean Paquet & Alex Rushlow as captians, the 2009-2010 team won conferences and regionals with ease and had an amazing eleven players earn a regional title for the second year in a row. The team’s regional champions included Michael Elliott, Mac Corcoran, Alex Primeau, Newton Calcutt & Sean Paquet, Josh Quinlin & Alex Rushlow, Josh Kurtz & Patrick Wilson as well as Chris Miller & Stephen Siddall. Newton Calcutt and Sean Paquet were awarded “All State” for their #1 Doubles team. In addition, Josh Kurtz & Patrick Wilson won a State Championship at #3 doubles. The team ended with 16 points and 5th place at States.
The tennis program at SEAS continued to grow with over 60 boys and girls playing junior high tennis by the fall of 2010. By this point there were so many players interested in playing tennis in high school, Annie Murphy added another JV team in 2010-2011 with thirty two boys playing the sport in high school. Like most sports programs, there are peak years and there are rebuilding years. In the case of tennis, even though the program lost a large number of seniors to graduation in 2010 the program continued in full force. The team went on to win conferences and regionals again. Regional champions included all doubles teams and #4 singles, Ben Colburn. At States, the team performed amazing, tying for 5th with 15 points. Our doubles teams that year were a dominant force with our #1 doubles team of Patrick Wilson & Michael Elliott as well as Chris Miller & Briggs Richmond, at #2 doubles getting to the semi finals. Our #4 doubles team of Paul Bandrowski & Brendan Barnes lost in the finals in a very close match to Ann Arbor Greenhills . The highlight of the state tournament was #3 doubles, Stephen Siddall and Keith Gingras, winning the championship trophy after beating University Liggett in the finals.
In the fall of the 2011-2012 season, Ludington moved to division four and our region. Although we continued to dominate in our conference, we tied with Whitehall for second place in the region with 12 points, while Ludington took home the regional trophy with 18 points. The only team to win a regional championship that season was Paul Bandrowski and Danny Wilson. We did earn enough points to go to states. While there, Stephen Siddall and Jack Krcmarik earned points at singles, as well as all the doubles teams. Paul Bandrowski and Danny Wilson made it to the Semi’s while Chase Richmond and Cole Gingras lost a very close match to Ann Arbor Greenhills in the finals at #4 doubles. Cole was a JV player who stepped into the varsity shoes for states after Tanner Hobbs was no longer able to play.
The 2012-2013 season had a similar success compared with the previous year. The team easily won conferences and were defeated once again by Ludington in the regional tournament. TCSF came closer to a regional championship in 2012, earning 16 points while Ludington scored 19. Three doubles teams did win the regional, including Blake Bandrowski & Chase Richmond at #2 doubles, Evan Primeau & Corey Boudrie at #3 doubles and Cole Gingras & Jay Jones at #4 doubles. At states, TCSF maintained it’s position of 6th in the state, earning 14 points. Jack Krcmarik and Patrick Burke earned state points at singles while all doubles teams had wins. Two teams made it to the semi’s including #2 doubles team of Blake Bandrowski & Chase Richmond as well as the #3 doubles team of Evan Primeau and Corey Boudrie.
After the 2012-2013 season, Annie Murphy decided to retire as the varsity head coach to spend more time with her new grandchildren. However, thankfully, she agreed to stay on as assistant coach for the program. It can be said unequivocally, that Annie Murphy brought the TSCF tennis program to a whole new level. After winning seven conference championships, four regional championships, qualifying for states seven years in a row and developing a large group of players into great young men, Annie deserved a break. That previous year, SEAS had the largest number of kids playing tennis ever - 40 girls and 30 boys. This helped lead to five freshman playing on the girls varsity team in the spring 2012. The SEAS program continued to act as a feeder for the girls and boys varsity and JV programs.
Paul Bandrowski Take the Helm
with Annie Murphy’s Continued Assistance
After seven years of building the SEAS tennis program, Paul Bandrowski was excited to take on a new challenge within the TCSF tennis community. When Annie Murphy decided to step down, Paul Bandrowski tossed his hat in the ring. Paul had spent the last several years working to build tennis throughout Northern Michigan. He served on the USTA’s northern Michigan district board of directors, acted as director of NMTA junior tennis for three years, developed and ran a USTA sanctioned Advanced Training Center for the areas high level tennis players, implemented and ran a number of local and district USTA sanctioned tournaments. After a great summer of tennis, we began to focus on the fall tennis season. We had 24 boys decide to play tennis in the fall of 2013-2014, allowing us to field both varsity and JV teams with a full complement of players. There was some great talent to choose from and varsity added six new players, including three freshman. The JV consisted of nine freshman two sophomores and a junior. Paul tried hard to integrate JV into the varsity programs, performing joint practices and other activities. The team had a very successful season with a dual record of 13-5, a school record of 13 dual wins. The team set another school record when every flight went undefeated at conferences and securing a perfect score of 24 points. The team won regionals for the first time since Ludington became a division 4 team and was added to our region. There were seven regional champions, three finalists and two quarterfinalists. We won regionals with 28 points while Ludington came in second with 23 points. At states we earned 14 points which secured us 6th in the state. Jack Krcmarik, at #3 singles, was the only player to reach the semi-finals. Jack also broke six school records during his season including 36 singles matches won in a season, a 90% overall win-loss %, a 90% singles win-loss %, 15 duals won in a single season and a 27 win streak. We look forward to great things in 2014-2015.
