Ishpeming’s Kole Bancroft elevates to send the ball back over the net during a No. 1 singles match on Wednesday at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 2 boys tennis at Kingsford High School. (MHSAA.com photo by Jack Hall)

KINGSFORD — In the end, Wednesday’s final scoreboard in Kingsford read West Iron County 46, Ishpeming 28, Iron Mountain 20 for the top three teams.

But that scoreline doesn’t show just how hard the Wykons had to work to capture their third straight MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals championship in Division 2 boys tennis.

The Wykons won seven of the eight flights, but three of the flights had a set that needed a tiebreaker, and two of the flight finals went the maximum three sets.

“I don’t even have words for it,” Wykons coach Jim Anderson said. “It’s something that we’ve been planning for the whole year. It’s been a goal.

“And to have a three-peat under our belts is amazing. I’m just thrilled. I’m so happy that the guys had such success today. They’ve worked incredibly hard throughout the season.”

Ishpeming captured the one flight that eluded WIC, with Darius Weber winning the No. 4 singles championship with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Wykons’ Nick Perlongo, one match after Weber outlasted IM’s Kevin Sgrecci in three sets in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-7, 6-0.

The Hematites also finished as runners-up at all four doubles flights, while Iron Mountain had its top three singles players all reach the finals before falling.

The Hematites’ doubles runner-up included Dax Kakkuri and Grady Gauthier at No. 1, Darius Hyatt and Adam Aponte at No. 2, Ethan DeMarios and Marcus Annala at No. 3, and Loki Vollman and Legend Hewitt at No. 4.

Weber’s semifinal victory wasn’t the only dramatic, three-set match. Far from it.

The match that probably highlighted the afternoon came in the championship for No. 1 singles between the Wykons’ Dominick Brunswick and Iron Mountain’s Malakai Broersma. They went back and forth for more than two hours, with both taking momentum, losing momentum and getting it back again.

Brunswick pulled out the first set by winning a grueling tiebreak, 7-6, that included multiple long rallies.

Then in the second set, Broersma found his footing, winning the first four games before holding off Brunswick to even the match, 6-3.

Both were visibly tired as the match wore on under sunny, 85-degree conditions. Brunswick eventually wore down Broersma, taking the decisive third set 6-1.

“He just played really well today,” Brunswick said. “He was super consistent, wasn’t making a lot of mistakes, so he made it so I really couldn’t make mistakes myself.

“In the end, I think it came down to endurance, and to who wanted it more. It feels great to finally win U.P.’s as myself, because in previous years, I’ve got second (place).

“So it means a lot to get one as a senior for me, and to get the three-peat for my team.”

For his part, Broersma admitted that he was completely out of gas, after he also had to win a war in the semifinals over Ishpeming’s Kole Bancroft, 7-6, 6-4.

It was a lot of pressure tennis for the Mountaineers junior.

“I seem to do that a lot, last year as well, tire myself out,” Broersma said. “That first match I had today against Ishpeming, that felt like forever as well.

“Oof, I should’ve taken a longer break. Really, I didn’t have a lot of hope at the start. But once I started picking it up, I felt good.”

“But then, I mean, it’s hot. I got tired and kind of lost it at the end there. I’m a junior, so I still have a year ahead of me. He’s a senior, so I’m happy for him to go out that way.”

The other marathon match was at No. 2 singles, with the Wykons’ Donte White outlasting Iron Mountain’s Seth Greenleaf, 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-3. That match started right after a 45-minute rain delay ended, and was the final match to be completed to wrap up the day.

Anderson praised Brunswick and White, saying, “Hard work pays off.”

“I feel like we’ve progressed so much since we got started in March,” the coach said. “I’m just so proud of them.

“Dominick had an incredibly hard match. He wasn’t feeling well to start the day, so I’m glad he was able to find a way to fight through it. Today is a testament to just how tough he is.”

There was one other team on the court that won at least one match on Wednesday, Gwinn. The Modeltowners did not make it to the finals in any flight, but competed well, scoring 12 points.

“We held our own this year,” Gwinn coach Dan Turecky said. “I think it’s one of the better ones (U.P. Finals) that we’ve had. Over half of the team have won medals and were in the semifinals, so that was a good showing for Gwinn and the Modeltowners this year.”

Jack Hall works with the Radio Results Network and reported this story for the Michigan High School Athletic Association website, mhsaa.com.