Holy Family Boys Tennis Doubles Team Caps MSHSL State Tournament Run

Holy Family Catholic High School boys tennis players Mike Lizak and Hayden Holcomb capped an outstanding season with a strong showing at the MSHSL Class A Boys Tennis State Tournament.

After capturing the Section 2A doubles championship and advancing to State, Lizak and Holcomb represented the Fire with grit, pride, and competitive toughness on one of Minnesota’s biggest tennis stages.

The duo opened State Tournament play with a hard-fought first-round match, falling 7-5, 7-6 in a contest decided by the slimmest of margins. Despite the setback, Lizak and Holcomb answered back the right way in the consolation bracket.

Holy Family defeated Leyton Griffith and Henry Eldred of DeLaSalle with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory, keeping their State Tournament run alive and advancing to the consolation semifinal round.

The run eventually came to an end in the consolation semifinals, but not before Lizak and Holcomb helped raise the bar for Holy Family Boys Tennis and put the Fire back on the State doubles stage.

A State Tournament Run to Remember

For Lizak and Holcomb, the State Tournament appearance was the final chapter in a postseason run built on preparation, composure, and belief.

Their performance at State showed the same resilience that carried them through the section tournament. After a close first-round loss, they responded with one of their strongest matches of the postseason, taking control early against DeLaSalle and advancing with a straight-set win.

That response reflected the story of their season: compete, reset, and keep pushing.

Section 2A Doubles Champions

Lizak and Holcomb earned their State Tournament berth by winning the Section 2A doubles championship at Swanson Tennis Center on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.

The Holy Family duo entered the section tournament as the No. 2 seed and delivered a standout run through the doubles bracket.

They opened the tournament with a dominant first-round win over Parker Olson and Leander Nelson from Fairmont, 6-0, 6-0.

In the quarterfinals, Lizak and Holcomb defeated Matt Defries and Grayson Swenson from Litchfield, 6-2, 6-4. They followed that with a semifinal win over Caleb Fast and Rylan Meyer, the No. 3 seed from St. James, 7-5, 6-2.

The championship match brought their toughest test of the section tournament against Litchfield’s Mathias Bruning and Josh Blomberg, the No. 1 seed. Bruning and Blomberg entered the final with an 18-0 record as a doubles team between regular season and section play.

Lizak and Holcomb rose to the moment, winning the final in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to secure the Section 2A doubles championship and advance to the State Tournament.

Putting Holy Family Tennis Back on the State Stage

The State Tournament berth marked an important milestone for Holy Family Boys Tennis.

Lizak and Holcomb became Holy Family’s first boys tennis doubles team to qualify for the State Tournament since 2018. Their appearance also marked the program’s first individual State berth since 2023, when Michael Frost advanced in singles.

More than the results alone, the season represented growth for the program. Lizak and Holcomb competed with confidence, responded under pressure, and gave Holy Family tennis a postseason run to build on.

Hard Work Pays Off for Holy Family Tennis

Head Coach Sam Puff said the championship run was the result of consistent preparation, commitment, and offseason work.

“I knew Mike and Hayden could win the section this year if they worked hard in the offseason. Their dedication to training in the offseason, practicing every day, and spending extra time on the weekends to prepare for this moment has paid off. All credit goes to Mike and Hayden for their success on the court this season. I am excited to see what they will accomplish at the state tournament!”

— Head Coach Sam Puff

Congratulations, Mike and Hayden

Congratulations to Mike Lizak and Hayden Holcomb on an outstanding State Tournament showing and a season that raised the bar for Holy Family Boys Tennis.

Proud of the fight. Proud of the finish.

Experience Holy Family

At Holy Family Catholic High School, students are challenged to grow through academics, faith, athletics, fine arts, leadership, and community life. The success of Holy Family Boys Tennis is one example of how students are encouraged to pursue excellence while being known, supported, and celebrated.

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