That was the driving force last year behind the Hematites’ first U.P. finals title, and this year, with an entirely new group of doubles players, they did it again.

Ishpeming edged West Iron County 13 points to 12 for the D-2 championship after outpacing the Wykons by the thinnest of margins last year as well.

Norway was a close third with 10 points, while Munising had 9 for fourth place, Gwinn 6 for fifth, Iron Mountain added 4 points and Ironwood 2.

“It’s really exciting,” Ishpeming’s Janelle Seelen said after winning the No. 3 doubles title match with her twin sister Lydia. “And especially since last year’s seniors, it feels special because they won last year and we could follow that tradition.”

West Iron County’s Kaitlyn Smith returns a volley during a No. 1 singles match at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 2 Finals in girls tennis on Wednesday at Kingsford. (MHSAA.com photo courtesy Jason Juno)

Even their coach, Josh Kitto, is new. He said it was special to win a U.P. title in his first year with the team.

“We’ve got hard workers; they’re coachable,” he said. “They work hard. That’s a big thing is their work ethic is great.”

Ishpeming won Nos. 1, 2 and 3 doubles. Neither the 1 or 2 doubles teams lost a set all day Wednesday. The No. 3 doubles team was the only one seeded No. 1.

The team of Brynn Way-Lanala and Ava LaPin, seeded third, defeated WIC’s top-seeded Destiny Lemery and Olivia LaMay 6-3, 6-4 in the final.

LaPin said they never got down on themselves or each other.

“It’s crazy. I didn’t think we’d be here honestly,” Way-Lanala added. “It was a rough start to the season.”

Lilly Ryan and Stella Nerlfi defeated Munising’s Tessa Salo and Tamryn Nolan 6-3, 7-5 in the No. 2 final.

“Me and Stella from the start always worked well together, and I think today we really pulled that through,” Ryan said. “We pulled through our best games today, and I think that meant a lot.”

Janelle and Lydia Seelen downed Norway’s Emily Carlson and Myah Gilroy 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 3 doubles final. They got there by getting past Munising’s Kinley Hall and Keira Albright 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in a semifinal.

“With the wind, it was really hard on the one side. We had to adjust and hit harder on the one side and hit shorter on the other side,” Lydia Seelen said.

Munising took home the No. 4 doubles title with Lauren Nelson and Maddy Knuttila defeating WIC’s Vivian Holm and Jenna Sunn 7-6 (6-4), 6-1.

Nelson said she and Knuttila talked to each other and cheered each other on while working through their little mistakes.

“I think she had some very good crushes, and I think I had some good shots towards the back that would get behind them to their feet,” she said.

West Iron won two of the four singles titles.

The Wykons’ Kaitlyn Smith prevailed 6-2, 6-0 over Gwinn’s Miaha Schiefel at No. 1 singles. Smith had won the No. 3 title last year and Schiefel was runner-up in No. 1 singles last year as well.

“In the beginning, I was a little bit slower, but then I took it to her,” Smith said. “I was good on my forehands, backhands. I came up to the net when I needed to.”

Teammate Kaycee Ingram defeated Ishpeming’s Sophia Nerlfi 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 to take the No. 3 singles crown.

Gwinn’s Brook Chaput took No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-1 over Iron Mountain’s Alysia Wood. Chaput bowed out in the semifinals last year.

“I just felt like I had to do it since I was a senior, and I’m just so happy it finally happened,” Chaput said. “I hit a lot of lobs good today. My serves were actually better than usual. And I just didn’t stay in my head the whole time, which I usually do, and that helped me get through.”

Norway’s Jessa Rossler won the other U.P. title of the day, at No. 4 singles. She defeated Munising’s Jolie Ake 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

“It’s pretty crazy. It’s hard to believe because this is my first year playing tennis, so I’m pretty excited,” Rossler said. “My uncle actually joined when he was in high school, and he won a U.P. championship, too. It’s just kind of something that I always wanted to try, but I’m really glad I did.”

———————–

Jason Juno wrote this summary of the U.P. finals for the Michigan High School Athletic Association website, www.mhsaa.com. He is the sports editor of the The Daily Globe in Ironwood.