NOVEMBER 7 • 2019 | 29

a freshman and sophomore 
with Alex Bean, making it to 
the quarterfinals and second 
round.
It was the second time 
arrangements were made for 
FJA at the state tournament.
A few years ago, Stark 
said, an FJA doubles team 
returned to Kalamazoo 
on the Sunday after the 
tournament was supposed to 
end to finish its competition.
Stark has done a 
remarkable job in his five 
years as coach of the FJA 
boys tennis team. The 
Jaguars made it to the state 
tournament in 2015, 2016, 
2017 and 2019 and finished 
eighth, 10th, 11th and 13th.
“We’
ve set the bar high,” 
Stark said. “Our goal each 
season is to get the state 
tournament. That’
s why we 
play a lot of Division 1 and 
Division 2 teams during the 
regular season. We want 
those tough matches to get 
ready for regionals and state.”
FJA went 5-7-1 in dual 
matches during the regular 
season this fall.
Among its wins was a 6-2 
victory over Walled Lake 
Western. The Jaguars lost 
to West Bloomfield, Walled 
Lake Northern and Walled 
Lake Central.
Besides Grey, it also was 

the third state tournament 
for FJA No. 1 singles player 
Eric Adelson and No. 2 
singles player Bean, both 
seniors.
Adelson was named the 
team’
s most valuable player.
“I’
m proud of how Eric 
(Adelson) and Alex (Bean) 
battled every opponent’
s top 
singles players,” Stark said.
Adelson and Bean each was 
9-8 for the season.
Freshman Rafi Weinstein 
(No. 4) rounded out FJA’
s 
singles lineup.
The FJA doubles teams 
were seniors Mitchell 
Blackman and Russell Presser 
(No. 1), senior Ben Goldstein 
and freshman Ethan Grey 
(No. 2), senior Andrew 
Schulman and freshman Max 
Charlip (No. 3) and senior 
Elan Krakoff and freshman 
Adin Charlip (No. 4).
Adelson, Eli Grey, 
Schulman/Max Charlip and 
Krakoff/Adin Charlip were 
runners-up in their flights in 
the regional tournament.
Gary Gates is FJA’
s assistant 
coach.
FJA and Flint Powers tied 
for 13th place at the state 
tournament, each with seven 
points.
Allegan and Hackett 
deadlocked for the team title 
with 21 points. 

Why are Frankel Jewish Academy boys tennis players holding up 
four fingers after competing in a Division 4 regional tournament? 
Because the Jaguars had just qualified for the state tournament for 
the fourth time in five years.

LARRY STARK

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