26 | NOVEMBER 7 • 2024 J
N

T

he remarkable story of the 
Frankel Jewish Academy 
boys tennis team continues 
to be written every year.
For the 11th time in the 13 years 
that Larry Stark has coached the 
team, the Jaguars made it to the 
Michigan High School Athletic 
Association Division 4 state 
tournament this season. And they 
won a regional championship for 
the second time. They won their 
first regional title in 2022.
This year’s Frankel boys tennis 
team story had a few wrinkles.
For the first time in Division 4 
history, the state tournament was 
held on a Monday and Tuesday 
(Oct. 21-22) instead of over a 
weekend because of the celebration 
of Sukkot.
Also, Frankel couldn’t practice 

as a team for several days prior to 
the state tournament because of 
Sukkot.
“I don’t want to use not 
practicing as a team as an excuse, 
but I don’t think we were sharp at 
state,” Stark said. “We were honored 
to be there, though.”
The Jaguars scored five points at 
the state tournament and tied for 
15th place in the 21-team field.
Here’s Frankel’s lineup and each 
player’s season record and major 
season accomplishments in his 
flight:
• No. 1 singles: Ethan Schwartz 
(6-9) won his first-round match at 
regionals.
• No. 2 singles: Hayden Dean 
(13-3) was a regional champion.
• No. 3 singles: Brandon Witt 
(15-2) was a regional champion and 

advanced to the quarterfinals at the 
state tournament.
• No. 4 singles: Shyah LaKind 
(11-5) advanced to the regional 
championship match.
• No. 1 doubles: Robbie Feldman/
Eli Rosenzweig (12-5) advanced to 
the regional championship match.
• No. 2 doubles: Louie Kowalsky/
Austin Squarcia (16-1) were 
regional champions.
• No. 3 doubles: Aaron 
Schuchman/Aidan Squarcia (3-6).
• No. 4 doubles: Drew Edelstein/
Moses Schuchman (1-4).
This year’s regional title was a 
shocker because the Jaguars had 
inexperienced No. 3 doubles and 
No. 4 doubles teams. Stark wasn’t 
even able to fill those spots in his 
lineup early in the season.
“Monica and I (Monica Stark, 

Larry’s wife, has been the Frankel 
boys tennis team’s assistant coach 
for six years) were talking the night 
before the regional, wondering how 
we were going to score the needed 
18 points to qualify for state,” Larry 
said.
As it turned out, Frankel scored 
22 points Oct. 9 at Grosse Ile 
and took home the regional team 
championship plaque.
“A wonderful miracle,” Monica 
said.
Revenge made the regional 
championship even sweeter. 
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 
handed Frankel its lone dual match 
loss during the regular season. The 
Jaguars finished 8-1-3, losing only 
6-2 to Gabriel Richard. Frankel 
players lost three matches to 
Gabriel Richard on tie-breakers.
Two of the tie-breaker losses were 
transformed into Frankel victories 
in regional championship matches.
Dean won a four-hour match 6-4, 
2-6, 7-6 (7-5). 
Witt crushed his opponent 6-2, 
6-1.
“Losing to that guy from Gabriel 
Richard shocked me, because I 
don’t lose very often,” Witt said. 
“That motivated me to work 
harder.”
Frankel had three flight 
champions at the regional. The No. 
2 doubles team of Kowalsky and 
Squarcia was the Jaguars’ other 
regional champion.
Kowalsky and Squarcia have gone 
undefeated in the regular season for 
two straight years. They were 11-0 
at No. 4 doubles last year and 12-0 
at No. 2 doubles this season.
Witt had a strong sophomore 
season at No. 3 singles this year 
after going 14-3 at No. 2 doubles 
last year as a freshman and making 
it to the semifinals at the state 
tournament.
“Brandon will be our No. 1 

FJA boys tennis team qualified for the MHSAA Division 4 
state tournament for the 11th time in 13 years.

Frankel States 
Its Case ... Again

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

The Frankel 
boys tennis team 
gathers for a photo 
after the Division 
4 state tournament 
in Midland.

