Negaunee won six of the eight championship flights to capture its fourth consecutive MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals title in boys tennis on Wednesday.

Negaunee head coach Kyle Saari said a team-first approach has kept the Miners, winners of eight championships in the past decade, at the top.

“We understand that most seasons we come in there’s a pretty sizable target on our back,” Saari said. “These kids, they kind of embrace that challenge and understand the tradition they’ve built to pass the game on to the next group that comes in.

“Back from the first day of practice this is always one of the goals that we set. They work hard day in and day out and support each other. They definitely do it as a team sport. That’s always the unique side of it is they embrace each others’ success and that’s what’s most neat to be a part of.”

Marquette’s Alec Olivier hits against Negaunee’s Chas Kumpula in the No. 1 singles final at the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals on Wednesday in Kingsford. (Iron Mountain Daily News photo by Adam Niemi)

Marquette’s Alec Olivier finished his high school career with a perfect 63-0 record with his fourth U.P. championship at No. 1 singles. He beat Negaunee’s Chas Kumpula in the finals 6-1, 6-1.

“Playing at No. 1 you’re always facing the best players,” Marquette head coach Charlie Drury said. “To be able to do it for four years is just a remarkable feat. I don’t think anyone has done that, at least not in the last 50 years that I’m aware.

“Alec’s been solid. He’s had a lot of pressure to keep that record going. He’s done just a tremendous job and (we) couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Negaunee scored 21 points, followed by Marquette with 16, Kingsford 8, Escanaba 6, Menominee 2 and Gladstone 1.

Kingsford’s No. 1 doubles tandem of Tyler Beauchamp and Reece Fortner led Jakson Sager and Drew Lindberg in the second set. But the Miners’ never-say-die attitude helped them rally to win 6-2, 7-5.

“They had that second set where it got tight. They relied on their athleticism and they’re two good friends as it is,” Saari said. “They’ve had many matches like that in the past three years. Because they have that chemistry, it’s really nothing new for them in that situation.”

The runner-up finish in the finals helped Kingsford to a third-place finish in head coach Sarah Massie’s first year as the boys coach.

“I think they played well. Coming in we were the underdog because we had lost to them two times earlier this season,” she said. “Winning (the Great Northern Conference) last week I was hoping we could pull it off. Negaunee has such a solid (No.) 1 doubles team, I knew it was going to be tough no matter which way it went. Last time we played them it went to three sets. We were right there with them.”

Olivier and teammate Benjamin Sternschuss at No. 4 singles were the only players to best Negaunee in the finals. Sternschuss beat Negaunee’s Jordon Mason 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Olivier said going undefeated through high school wasn’t a goal he set as a freshman. The further he went without losing, he said, the more he pursued the perfect record.

“I’m happy it’s over. Very stressful trying to go undefeated my whole career,” Olivier said. “Really glad I was able to stay undefeated. I think my first year I was the only (Marquette player) to make it in the finals. Now we’ve got five people in the finals. Really looking forward to what comes of Marquette tennis.

“It’s a lot of pressure in the finals. It’s also going to be my last match either way, so that was a little stressful.”

Saari said Peyton Anderson is the first four-time boys U.P. champion at Negaunee. Megan Syrjala, a 2018 graduate, was the first girl. Anderson defeated Marquette’s Kevin Zhang for his title, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Saari said Olivier’s pedigree on the court is unmatched in high school tennis.

“He had a remarkable career. I don’t know if there is another U.P. tennis player that went through four years and didn’t drop a single match,” Saari said of Olivier. “He definitely is the best player in the U.P. He might be the best player in the U.P. of all time, perhaps.

“He finished his career on a high note and probably exactly like he wanted to. He’s been a fun player to watch. He’s also shown our (No.) 1 singles player Chas (Kumpula) on where that bar is and it definitely helped Chas’ game improve as the year went on.”