Here is the Negaunee High School tennis team from 1970. From left, are Dennis Loven, Randy Paulson, Mike Dompiere, Dan Wheeler, Robert DeGabriele, Robert Cox, Eric Johnson, Tom Lehto, Norman Goethe, Robert Juidici, Duane Stille, Mike McDonnel,Dennis Partanen Robert Parkkonen, Coach Brumm and Jeff Ronn. (Photo courtesy of Negaunee Historical Society)

NEGAUNEE — Although tennis was a popular activity in Negaunee as early as the late 1920s and early 1930s, there was no interest in the game as a high school sport. One of the main reasons was probably because there was a lack of competition at the high school level.

There were very few schools that were interested in the sport. It was initially tried as a varsity sport for boys as Negaunee High School in 1942 and again in 1949, but it did not become part of the athletic program on a continued basis until 1964, 60 years ago.

That was the year that Bob Brumm, a well known Marquette tennis player and member of the Negaunee High School faculty was selected to coach the Miner’s tennis team.

The Miners had dual matches with Marquette twice, losing 9-0 in Marquette and 8-1 at home. The Miners were last in the Upper Peninsula Class A-B tennis tournament, winning one singles and one doubles match. Coach Brumm said the prospects look better for the 1965 squad as seven of the nine players will be returning.

Competition at that time was limited to dual meets and the annual Upper Peninsula Tournament. This was an open event in which all schools in all enrollment qualifications were eligible to compete. As promised, Brumm’s 1965 squad had a successful season, they won two dual meets and lost three.

The highlight of the season was the Class A,B tournament at Marquette where they finished in third place as opposed to placing fifth the previous year. Brumm directed the Negaunee netters for eight seasons through 1971. He was succeeded by Francis L’Hillier who served four years.

Eric Prusi took the reigns in 1975 and remained through the 1980 season. Prusi’s team won the Mid Peninsula championship. Bruce Ferrell was Prusi’s successor.

High School tennis tournaments have been held in two enrollment classifications for several years in the Upper Peninsula. Farrell’s clubs won the Upper Peninsula Class C-D championships in 1983 and 1984.

The Miners have finished as Mid-Pen Conference runner-up in 1988, and 1991. In 1989 the Miners were Upper Peninsula Champions. The 2003 boy’s varsity team had their sights set on dethroning Marquette and taking home the Upper Peninsula Championship.

Unable to do so, the team did set a new school record in dual meets, enroute to an 11-1 season. The 2003 line-up was strong from singles to every double flights. Each player compiled at least a 16 win season to help towards the effort. In tournament play Negaunee placed 2nd in the Kingsford and Negaunee invitational, as well as in the MPC’s and the Upper Peninsula tournament.

Once again, Marquette ran away with the title. In postseason honors, Dan Skewis was named Division one Coach of the Year. Dan Skewis is currently the Superintendent of Negaunee Schools. Kyle Saari was named to the All-UP first team as #1 singles and All State honors. Kyle has served as Negaunee’s boys tennis coach since 2007.

In several recent sports articles, it has stated that Negaunee finished undefeated followed by Marquette. I would say that they got the monkey off their back. This year, 2024 marks the 10th U.P. Championship in 13 years for the Miners who were crowned M-PC champions for the 13th consecutive year. Girl’s tennis started in the fall of 1975 with Jan Koehs as the coach. Sharlene Hill coached during the years 1976-78. During these years the girls competed in Class C-D for the Upper Peninsula Tournament. Charlie Drury, another well-known tennis player from Marquette coached the girls team from 1978-1980.

In 1980, the girls won the Upper Peninsula championship for the Class C-D schools. In 1981, Jack Tripp became the girl’s coach. Tripp’s teams won championships in 1983, 1987 and 1989. Kyle Saari took over the gir’s program in 2009.

I have included statements written by some of the girls that are in the year books. How do you measure success? That was one of the big questions posed to the girls tennis team. To the outside world success is measured by how often you win.

This is not the principle on Negaunee’s tennis courts. Here success is measured by the work, sweat and tears put forth each day. Since most girls on the team could say they gave all they had, I believe we had a very successful season, no matter the stats.

Four years of practicing in unpredictable weather, laughs and crazy bus rides, making memories. I’ll never forget how we grew as a team and as individuals.

Coach Saari built our tennis team from the ground up and without his coaching we wouldn’t have had an undefeated record, an MPC Championship and a U.P. Championship.(2011) Tennis has become a sport that matters in Negaunee.

The Negaunee Historical Society thanks Coach Kyle Saari and JV Coach Cody Scanlon and all previous coaches for instilling the love of tennis in our young athletes.