SWEET REVENGE! Detroit Country Day Edges Cranbrook 34–33 to Capture Division 3 Boys Tennis State Championship

MIDLAND, Mich. — One year after suffering a heartbreaking one-point defeat, Detroit Country Day turned the tables on one of its biggest rivals.

The Yellowjackets captured the 2026 MHSAA Division 3 boys tennis state championship Saturday, October 17, at the Midland Tennis Center, edging defending champion Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 34–33.

The victory gave Country Day its first outright boys tennis state championship since 2014 and delivered a fitting conclusion to another closely contested championship battle between two of Metro Detroit’s premier tennis programs.

The final margin was especially meaningful.

In 2025, Cranbrook defeated Country Day by that same 34–33 score to claim the championship.

This time, the Yellowjackets finished on top.

Samuel Kole-James Delivers the Decisive Victory

With the team championship hanging in the balance, Country Day sophomore Samuel Kole-James produced one of the tournament’s most important performances.

Competing in the No. 2 singles championship match against Cranbrook freshman Trevor Ilitch, Kole-James dropped the opening set 6–2.

He then battled back to take the second set 7–5 before winning a dramatic third-set tiebreaker, 7–6 (4).

The comeback secured his second consecutive individual state championship at No. 2 singles.

More importantly, it delivered the decisive team point that pushed Country Day past Cranbrook.

Kole-James’ victory was the difference between another runner-up finish and a state championship celebration.

Yellowjackets Get Contributions Across the Lineup

Country Day’s championship wasn’t built on one performance alone.

Freshman Nicholas Nadjarian captured the No. 4 singles championship, while sophomore Sasha Kebl and junior Sebastian Shah claimed the No. 4 doubles title.

Those victories helped the Yellowjackets accumulate the points necessary to stay ahead in a tightly contested team race.

The championship also highlighted Country Day’s depth, with contributions from both singles and doubles competitors throughout the two-day tournament.

Cranbrook Pushes Country Day to the Finish

Although Cranbrook finished one point short of defending its championship, the Cranes delivered several impressive performances.

Freshman Jacob Yang captured the No. 1 singles championship, defeating Country Day’s defending champion Ricky Jeong in three sets, 7–6, 3–6, 6–1.

Junior Eli Rosen won the No. 3 singles title, while seniors Ryan VanDyke and Josh Day captured the No. 1 doubles championship.

Cranbrook’s three individual flight titles demonstrated why the program remains one of the state’s strongest.

But when the final team points were counted, Country Day held the narrowest possible advantage.

A Rivalry That Continues to Define Division 3

The rivalry between Detroit Country Day and Cranbrook Kingswood has become one of the defining storylines in Michigan high school boys tennis.

Both programs have consistently competed for state championships, often meeting in critical matches that determine the final standings.

Country Day shared the Division 3 championship with Ann Arbor Greenhills in 2024 before finishing runner-up to Cranbrook in 2025.

Now, the Yellowjackets have reclaimed the top position with an outright title of their own.

The back-to-back 34–33 finishes underscore just how little separates these two Metro Detroit programs.

A Championship Worth Celebrating

For Detroit Country Day, Saturday’s victory represents more than another trophy.

It marks the culmination of a championship pursuit, a dramatic individual comeback and a team-wide effort to reclaim the Division 3 crown.

For Cranbrook, the narrow defeat sets the stage for another chapter in an increasingly compelling rivalry.

And for Metro Detroit high school sports, the championship serves as another reminder of the region’s depth of talent beyond the football field.

Detroit Country Day is once again the Division 3 boys tennis state champion.

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