Competing against Northville and Novi in tennis is usually a lost cause for Livingston County players, particularly at No. 1 singles.
But Howell junior Estie Sura is a unicorn in a county that doesn’t have a track record of success in tennis.
Sura not only beat the best Northville and Novi had to offer two days apart, but she swept those No. 1 singles players decisively.
Sura won 6-1, 6-2, over Northville’s Sophia DiPilla on April 16 and 6-0, 6-2, over Novi’s Avery Dorogi on April 18. Those were Howell’s only victories in 18 matches against the Mustangs and Wildcats.
“I always know it’s going to be a challenge, but it’s not one I can’t overcome,” said Sura, the Livingston Daily’s Athlete of the Week. “It sets where I’m at in terms of our regional and how I’m playing.
“Playing those teams during high school gives me a challenge like what I face when I play in tournaments year-round. If I do well enough in regionals like I did last year, it also helps me do better in the state tournament. If I walked through regionals and get to state, it’s way harder.”
As a sophomore, Sura became only the third Livingston County girl to qualify for the state tournament since 2009. In records going back to 1998, she’s the only Howell girl to qualify.
She won her first match in three sets before losing in the second round. The experience has Sura hungry for more this season.
“It was just a nice experience going there,” she said. “It’s always a goal of mine to go to states and perform well. I definitely want to get out of the second round if I make the tournament. I feel like I was really close last year and can push that this year.
“With the competition that was there, there were really good players I don’t normally face year-round, because they’re in a high-level tournament I can’t get into. States offers not only the best kids in the state, but the best kids in the nation. I see their names nationally and it’s nice to have that opportunity to play against them and see where I am compared to them.”
Sura is 9-0 and hasn’t played a third set so far in 2024. She won the Howell Green and Gold tournament with three 8-0 victories.
“Now she has a legitimate shot at winning it,” Howell coach Jim Gagalis said. “Then she has next year, as well. This is awesome for Howell tennis. That’s what it takes. She started young. I think I gave her lessons when she was about 7. Then after that, she joined the clubs and just continued with it.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
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