Though his quest for a Division II state title in tennis came a few steps short, Michael Fredericka

Though his quest for a Division II state title in tennis came a few steps short, Michael Fredericka is satisfied with his junior season.

Fredericka, who attends Warren JFK High, made it to the state tournament, but was eliminated in the first round. His opponent, Joey Fritz, was the defending state champion.

“The first thing I said was ‘I got the worst possible draw I could’ve got’ and why? Why did I get this?” Fredericka said. “But that can only last for one day, that thinking. When I looked at the draw, I was like, ‘OK, I get the first piece of him.’”

Fredericka knew that the old Ric Flair line of “to be the man, you have to beat the man,” held true. And the further he went, the better competition he’d have to face.

“I was a little upset by the draw because it wasn’t as easy,” he said. “But I knew if I got through him, if I beat the defending state champion, that I had a chance to win it.”

Fredericka fell in love with the sport when he received his racquet at age five. He has represented the Eagles at the state level each of his three years at the school. His freshman year, Fredericka again had to open with a No. 1 seed. This year was much easier on him than that first experience.

“Just, wow, I got my eyes opened,” he said. “He was a really good player. And then last year when I went down, I got a little bit better.”

Though the ultimate goal of a state title has eluded him, Fredericka said each step brings him one step closer.

“It helps each year because your experience gets better as you go through,” he said. “Next year I’m hoping that the experience from three years will be enough for the fourth to do some damage.”

“Next year, to close out my high school career, that would be great,” he said. “I’d love to do that, and that’s what I’m working for.”