By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Everyone knew it was going to be close, but a three-way tie for the Division 4 regional championship?
That's what happened Thursday afternoon at Leeper Park as Dowagiac, Brandywine and Buchanan shared the regional championship and advanced to the Division 4 state finals next weekend in Grand Rapids.
In a four-way battle for the regional crown, Dowagiac, Brandywine and Buchanan tied with 23 points.
Edwardsburg finished with 17 points, just missing out on qualifying for the state meet.
It was Dowagiac's first-ever regional championship and for the first time in school history, it will send a team to the state finals.
On its way to sharing the title, Dowagiac swept the singles flights.
Buchanan on the other hand, won three out of the four doubles flights to earn its piece of the championship.
Brandywine, with its success in the early rounds of the tournament, only needed a point in the finals, which it got from its No. 3 doubles team of Nikki Cooper and Courtnay Schlutt, to share the crown.
Marazita was named Coach of the Year of the Division 4 Regional.
Dowagiac Juniors Lisa Rubino, Barbara Laing and Anne O'Keefe, along with senior Ashley Urbanski, all captured regional championships in the singles flights.
Winning championships for the Lady Bucks were Tracy Brelowski and Lizzy Thornton at No. 1 doubles, Hannah Flood and Nicole Moyer at No. 2 doubles and Leslie Niemier and Robin Bahr at No. 4 doubles.
Brandywine's Nikki Cooper and Courtney Schlutt captured the No. 3 doubles title.
Dowagiac, Brandywine and Buchanan will now play in the state finals at Grand Rapids Christian High School on Friday and Saturday.
Division 4 Regional Tournament
At Leeper Park, South Bend, Ind.
Team results
Dowagiac 23, Brandywine 23, Buchanan 23, Edwardsburg 17, Constantine 6, Eau Claire 5, Lake Michigan Catholic 3, Bridgman 2, Cassopolis 1, Coloma 1
Championship round
Singles
1. Lisa Rubino (D) d. Ashley Shepherd (BU) 6-3, 6-3; 2. Barbara Laing (D) d. Jaclyn Mummaw (BU) 6-4, 6-1; 3. Ashley Urbanski (D) d. Amy Konopinski (BW) 6-1, 6-1; 4. Anne O'Keefe (D) d. Amber Vanlentine (BW) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Tracy Brelowski/Lizzy Thornton (BU) d. Bethany Daniel/Christine Dvorak (BW) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; 2. Hannah Flood/Nicole Moyer (BU) d. Lisa Konopinski/Kristen Peters (BW) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1; 3. Nikki Cooper/Courtney Schlutt (BW) d. Bethany Marshke/Aly Weir (E) 6-4, 6-1; 4. Leslie Niemier/Robin Bahr (BU) d. Ashley Valentine/Jamie Bartuska (BW) 6-3, 6-3
Coach of the Year: Joe Marazita (Brandywine)