Esky senior Josh Grassel ended that drought and a rainy and damp Wednesday, outlasting Negaunee sophomore Chas Kumpula 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 for the No. 2 singles title.

But Negaunee won the championship in six of the remaining seven flights to easily be crowned team champion for the third straight time with 22 points, followed by Esky with 14, Kingsford 8, Marquette 5, Gladstone 2 and Menominee no points.

“We knew there was potential to be pushed by Kingsford and Escanaba,” Miners’ coach Kyle Saari said. “The unique thing about this (Negaunee) group is they’re coachable. They buy into everything we tell them and push each other to be better.

“It feels great to win three in a row. This all started for us in 2010 and we’ve since won seven of nine. Every group wants to build upon the success of the previous.”

The Negaunee High School boys tennis team poses with the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals high school tennis championship trophy on Wednesday in Kingsford. (Iron Mountain Daily News photo by Adam Niemi)

Negaunee players reached the title round in all eight flights at a meet that included a rain delay of more than two hours.

In No. 2 singles, Grassel forced the tiebreaker in the second set by overcoming a 5-2 deficit. Kumpula, however, was able to hang on and force the third. Grassel responded by taking a 3-0 lead in the finale.

“When it went to 3-0, I felt my chances were pretty good,” Grassel said. “I think I may have caught him by surprise in the third set. I felt I had a lot of momentum at the end of the second set, even though he won it. I thought he (Kumpula) played well. He’s a good player for being as young as he is.”

Marquette junior Alec Olivier captured his third consecutive title in a 6-0, 6-0 conquest of Negaunee senior Luke Skewis.

“I guess I just played well,” said Olivier, who also went undefeated for the third straight season. “I’ve had rain delays in other matches. It’s not that big of a problem. I just drank a lot of water, did some stretching (exercises) and walked around and stayed loose during the break.

“I’m glad we got it finished today. I was willing to stay here as long as it took.”

The match ended when Skewis was unable to return one of Olivier’s serves.

“I’ve been around (high school tennis) since 1971,” Marquette coach Charlie Drury said. “Without any question, he’s the best player I’ve seen at the high school level within that span. He’s a very dedicated player.”

Negaunee juniors Peyton Anderson and Jake Larson rallied past Esky’s Alex Valentine and Soren Thompson 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 doubles.

“We started playing with more energy after the first set,” said Larson, a U.P. champion at No. 4 doubles a year ago. “It took us a little while to get back in the flow after the rain delay. Then, we understood what was happening.

“There’s a lot of difference between No. 2 and No. 4 doubles. I’ve learned not to get mad at myself, which didn’t work today in the first set. It’s nice seeing everybody happy with the results. Kingsford and Escanaba are always good. We know they’re always going to give us a match.”

Esky sent five to the finals, including Nathan Pascoe, who dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision to the Miners’ Tom Sertich.

“They’re a powerhouse, no doubt,” Pascoe said of the Miners. “They’re very consistent. They communicate very well on the court (in doubles). I think the rain delay affected my game a little.”

The remaining title matches also went Negaunee’s way.

Freshman Will Luke blanked Esky’s Cody Stevens 6-0, 6-0 in No. 4 singles. Sophomores Jakson Sager and Drew Lindberg defeated Kingsford juniors Daunte Fortner and Tyler Beauchamp (7-5, 1-6, 6-2) at No. 1 doubles. Ander

Sorensen and Mason Hemmila topped Kingsford’s Reece Fortner and Ethan Fox (6-3, 6-4) in No. 3 and senior Evan Hassell and junior Tom Kinjorski beat Esky’s Garrett LaMarche and Tom Mayville (6-2, 7-5) at No. 4.

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