Grosse Pointe University Liggett鈥檚 Cooksey finishes high school career with historic feat
GROSSE POINTE WOODS, Mich. (BVM) — For high school athletes, finishing their career with a signature moment is something they dream of.聽
For Grosse Pointe University Liggett student-athlete William Cooksey, winning his fourth state title in boys tennis this year put him in rare company.
After defeating Andrew Solarewicz of Grand Rapids West Catholic (6-0, 6-3) in the state finals, he became the first player in Division 2 to win four titles at the No. 1 position.聽
This was the first time the feat happened in Michigan鈥檚 Lower Peninsula at any division since 1960, when Francisco Castillo reached the accomplishment. Marquette Senior High School student-athlete Alec Olivier won four titles from (2016-2019). Overall, only five athletes in the state have ever notched this achievement.聽
Grosse Pointe University Liggett鈥檚 boys tennis head coach, Mark Sobieralski, noted it was rewarding to see Cooksey win the title.
鈥淚t was incredible and I was proud of him,鈥� Sobieralski said. 鈥淚 really appreciated him. I thanked him for playing high school tennis. He played for the team and the school.鈥�
Cooksey stated he didn鈥檛 have much time to focus on the feat as he noticed his teammates came to see the match.
鈥淚t was two or three days after we won the team tournament, so all the guys were still super pumped, and my coach was like 鈥榣et鈥檚 get a bus, let鈥檚 get all the guys down,鈥欌�� Cooksey said. 鈥淭hey were all there and they were cheering me on, and it was definitely a cool moment. It felt great.鈥�
After finding out the rarity of what he accomplished by winning his fourth state title, Cooksey noted that, 鈥淚t was definitely cool to etch my name in the record (book).鈥�
Adding significance to the feat, he won the state title at Portland High School, where he competed in his first match as a freshman. He added that it was cool to win the championship where he began playing for the Knights.
Cooksey played multiple sports growing up. He estimates he began playing tennis between the ages of 4 and 5. He would continue playing basketball, soccer and baseball, before settling on tennis as he turned 13.聽
鈥淚 tried to really focus on it then, and I guess it paid off,鈥� Cooksey said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going good.鈥�
After shifting his focus to just one sport, Cooksey, then 5-foot-6, struggled initially against opponents who were bigger than him. However, his fortunes would soon change.
鈥淩ight around freshman year of high school, I got some confidence after doing well,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen I started growing from there, I started doing well on the tournament circuit, and that鈥檚 when I knew, 鈥楬ey, this is gonna be a serious thing for me.鈥欌��
Cooksey expressed that it was a big deal to win a state title as a freshman, because it was his first time in a team environment.
鈥淚 was always playing tournaments on my own, and I got to high school and I saw that tennis could be a team sport,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e cheering on guys from different courts and you鈥檙e traveling together, so it was a really cool experience for me.鈥�
Sobieralski stated Cooksey鈥檚 triumph in his first year was an indicator of things to come.聽
鈥淩ight away, we knew we had someone special,鈥� he said.聽
Cooksey expressed that it was rewarding to defeat players he faced previously on his way to the title.
鈥淚 played a couple of kids my freshman year throughout the season who were good tournament players that I lost to,鈥� Cooksey said. 鈥淏ut in the state tournament, I ended up winning it and that just gave me a good sign (and told me), 鈥楬ey, I can compete with these guys.鈥欌��
Between battling a wrist injury and dealing with effects brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooksey didn鈥檛 play in a tournament for eight months. He used that time to get his timing back and prepare for the upcoming season.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) adapted the format for this year鈥檚 boys tennis championship. The event had a round-robin format where the champion needed to win three straight matches. Additionally, the individual title was contested separately from the team title.聽
Cooksey noted that he liked the change in this year鈥檚 format.
鈥淚 actually enjoyed it more because we were all playing together as a team,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 could watch all the guys play and cheer them on, so I kind of liked that better.鈥�
Cooksey added an individual trophy to go along with the one earned as the Knights won the team title. He said it was amazing to see the team win the state title.
鈥淭he team title was my favorite part of my high school career,鈥� Cooksey said. 鈥淚 would want that more than individual (titles) to be honest. Having my buddies there with me and winning the team and everyone contributing, that was a great feeling.鈥�
Sobieralski stated one of the best things about Cooksey is despite his success on the court, his demeanor hasn鈥檛 changed. And in most cases, he looks to help his teammates improve.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a total team player,鈥� Sobieralski said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not selfish and he鈥檚 in it for the team.鈥澛�
Cooksey expressed that his relationship with his teammates helps keep him grounded.聽
鈥淭he guys on the team, they鈥檙e like my best friends just in general, so there鈥檚 no need to act different,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the end of the day it鈥檚 just a sport, so I think just staying humble and treating everyone right is what it鈥檚 all about.鈥�
As for how he handles himself in competition, Cooksey credits not being complacent as one of the keys to his success.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always going to be someone better than you out there,鈥� Cooksey said. 鈥淪o I don鈥檛 change my personality based on results much. I try to focus on being my best self and improving everyday.鈥�
In addition to his success locally, Cooksey won the under-18 boys single title at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Indoor Championships in Kansas City, Mo. last year.聽
Entering the tournament unseeded, Cooksey looked to show what he could do on a big stage.聽
鈥淚 ended up playing my best tennis, dictated play, and ended up winning a national title at 16, when I was playing 18U division,鈥� he said. 鈥淚ndividually, that was my best accomplishment, and I鈥檓 proud to have that with me forever.鈥�
Next year, Cooksey will attend the University of Michigan and compete for its men鈥檚 tennis program. He stated that a combination of the coaches, team and family connections made the choice to attend Michigan easy.
鈥淢y parents went there. I live an hour away and a combination of the team and academics, I just felt like they had it all, so I鈥檓 looking forward to it,鈥� he said.聽
With what he鈥檚 seen of Cooksey in high school, Sobieralski thinks it will be a smooth transition for him at the next level.
鈥淥bviously, the guys are bigger and stronger, but Will is like a college athlete now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 going to adjust pretty well.鈥�
However, Cooksey believes it鈥檚 a matter of building on his high school experience.
鈥淚 think just bringing more of what I learned in high school and implementing that at a higher level is going to be the biggest factor for me,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, I think I鈥檓 ready for it.鈥�
