There is no doubt that the Rochester Men’s Varsity Tennis team had a very successful season for the 2024-2025 school year. Memories were made both on and off the court between the fourteen members that make up this hard working team.
The team consists of ten doubles players and four singles players who are coached by the adored Coach Murphy who has been in his position since 1972, accompanied by Coach Wogan.
They kicked the school year off with a victory at The University Liggett School a week before the school year began. Four teams from across Michigan competed with Rochester sweeping the tournament. Their success continued to reign once the school year began with a win against Farmington, with the team winning every match.
As the season progressed, they made a memorable impression at their league tournament on September 19th. The team secured a victory in this lengthy tournament that ran throughout the course of the school day in Rochester’s own backyard. Their number one singles and doubles teams both won their finals, placing the Falcons at second overall in the league.
Two days later, the team traveled to Ann Arbor for a noteworthy tournament against the Ann Arbor Pioneers in an energetic quad tournament with both number one singles and doubles claiming victory once more.
On October 19th, regionals finally arrived and a high stakes battle began. At the end of their matches, the Falcons were down by one point. It came down to a fierce battle between Lake Orion and Stoney Creek High School to determine Rochester’s fate in qualifying for states. With a loss from Lake Orion and Stoney securing a win, it gave Rochester just what they needed to advance onwards to the state finals.
Sophomore Michael Brooklier explained “The atmosphere was tense, but when Stoney Creek won their match we all jumped up in joy.” All three highschools in the RCS district secured a spot in the State finals that would take place during the weekend of October 18th at the Byron Center in Grand Rapids.
The day finally arrived for the team to compete in their final match at the long awaited State finals, which they had been working towards since the beginning of the school year. The boys placed thirteenth overall out of the top twenty teams in the state. Junior Chad Anderson competed in the number one singles final and placed 2nd against Bloomfield Hills.
The season ended with a tennis banquet that included a recap of the season, dinner, awards and speeches. This was a great way to wrap up the 2024-2025 season and celebrate all the amazing accomplishments of the team.
