The Marquette Senior High School girls tennis team won the Great Northern Conference meet on Sept. 24, breaking Escanaba's four-year hold on the title. (Photo courtesy of Nate McFarren)

KINGSFORD — The Marquette girls flashed a preview that they’re a team to contend with — and can contend — at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in girls tennis when the Division 1 tournament is held at Westwood today.

The Sentinels broke a four-year reign by Escanaba as Great Northern Conference champions as the league’s tournament was held in Kingsford last Wednesday.

Marquette won championships in four flights — all of the Nos. 3 and 4 flights in singles and doubles — even while not making the finals in the other four.

The Sentinels registered 33 points to ease past the Eskymos with 27 and West Iron County with 25. The host Flivvers were fourth with 20, then Menominee with 13 and Gladstone with 10.

“Hats off to our girls, they battled their butts off,” Marquette head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email detailing the result. “We talked about how this tournament was going to be a close one and every win mattered, whether in the winner’s bracket or consolation bracket.

“I’m proud to say every one of the girls stepped up to the plate…. When we needed it most, our girls who made the finals clutched up and brought home individual titles which secured the team victory.”

The No. 3 doubles team of Charlye Swajanen and Eva Dewitt had the toughest challenge in their finals match, outlasting Escanaba’s Hailee Cloutier and Claire Jacobsen 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to help insure Marquette’s title.

In the Sentinels’ other doubles championship, Grace Jandreau and Brynn Helman downed the Eskymos’ Carly Gorenchan and Katie Kievit at No. 4 doubles 6-0, 6-3 in their finale.

“The teams at No. 3 doubles … and No. 4 doubles … had the biggest victories of the day,” Thomsen said. “Both (pairs) faced off against tough Escanaba teams in the finals and we needed both teams to win to hold off Esky for the team title.

“At times in both matches our girls faced adversity, but all four of those girls stayed composed, kept to the script and came out on top.

“A lot of credit to all four girls for digging deep and fighting their way to a win.”

In singles, Marquette’s Stella Dehlin won her crown at No. 3 with a 6-1, 6-0 win over West Iron County’s Erin Kolbas, while the Sentinels’ Kirra Longton took the No. 4 title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Gladstone’s Madison Sundquist.

“Stella Dehlin and Kirra Longton continued their strong year by winning in straight sets in their title matches,” Thomsen said. “Stella and Kirra put a lot of pressure on their opponents by hitting the ball extremely clean. Eventually, Stella and Kirra just wore their opponents down.” 

Marquette picked up an important nine points from its other four flights — Marin Johnson at No. 1 singles, Nora Skytta at No. 2 singles, Eva Kentala and Lola Rink at No. 1 doubles, and Kylie Smith and Logan McFarren at No. 2 doubles.

Both doubles tandems won their respective third-place matches, while Skytta finished fourth in her flight.

GNC tournament

Last Wednesday at Kingsford

Team scores — 1. Marquette 33, 2. Escanaba 27, 3. West Iron County 25, 4. Kingsford 20, 5. Menominee 13, 6. Gladstone 10

Championship matches:

SINGLES — No. 1, Aubrey Moore (K) def. Ellena Murphy (MEN) score unavailable; No. 2, Maddy Sleik (K) def. Kaycee Ingram (WIC) 6-2, 6-0; No. 3, Stella Dehlin (MQT) def. Erin Kolbas (WIC) 6-1, 7-5; No. 4, Kirra Longton (MQT) def. Madison Sundquist (G) 6-4, 6-3

DOUBLES — No. 1, Aubrey Richardson-Destiny Lemery (WIC) def. Aubrey Elliott-Brooklyn Hackleman (E) 6-4, 6-1; No. 2, Sophie Hill-Isabella Noblet (E) def. Mira Johnson-Alaysa Bacon (K) 6-2, 6-4; No. 3, Charlye Swajanen-Eva Dewitt (MQT) def. Hailee Cloutier-Claire Jacobsen (E) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; No. 4, Grace Jandreau-Brynn Helman (MQT) def. Carly Gorenchan-Katie Kievit 6-0, 6-3

Story contents based on email received from MSHS head coach Karl Thomsen. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.