DECEMBER 2 • 2021 | 29

return into the net.
That came after
Kirchenbaum had some luck
tying the tie-breaker 8-8. A
shot that hit the frame of his
racquet had so much spin on
it that it kicked away from
his opponent.
Franklin went 5-1 in the
16-team, three-day national
tournament, going 3-1 in
round-robin play and win-
ning semifinal and champi-
onship matches.
Three of Franklin’s six
matches ended in a 2-2 tie
and went to a tie-breaker.
Franklin won twice through
the tie-breaker, including a
victory over San Francisco in
the semifinals.
Kirschenbaum said solid
team chemistry played a
major role in Franklin’s run
to a national title.
Franklin won league,
district, state and Midwest
championships en route to
the national tournament.
“
A big reason for our good
team chemistry was having
a leader (Byer) who continu-
ously pushed you to do your
best,” Kirschenbaum said.
“
Ari did a phenomenal job.”
Byer, a Beverly Hills
resident, praised his team.
Eleven players went to the
national tournament.
“I sent an email to the
entire team before the season
that said we had only goal:
get to the national tourna-
ment,” he said. “Not one
person complained then, or
during the season, about not
getting enough playing time.
“It was a great group. We
had players from all over
the area, from Chesterfield
Township to Northville.”

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