KINGSFORD — For the second year in a row, the Escanaba Eskymos took home the title of Great Northern Conference Champions in tennis as they won the two-day long GNC Final last Friday in Kingsford.

While teams took to the Kingsford courts Thursday to begin GNCs, rain pushed the majority of the action to Friday.

The Eskymos won 7 of 8 flights to win the title, earning 46 points to second place Marquette’s 24.

Menominee (17), Kingsford (15), West Iron County (10), Munising (6) and Gladstone rounded out the tournament standings.

“The kids were really focused, and they were really happy with the results,” said Escanaba coach Tom Penegor. “We had to go two days. We went up there Thursday and sat there for almost eight hours and only played about an hour and a half of tennis, and then, we had to come back the following day and finish.”

The added wait to compete, however, didn’t seem to impact the Esky squad that much. For some, it was a familiar experience in a championship match.

“As it turned out, they handled it well,” said Penegor. “But, all the kids that participated all had to deal with the same thing. Last year at U.P. Finals, we had the same thing where we had probably a three-hour rain delay. So, some of them went through that process once before, so that might have helped them a little bit. … I think they handled it well, and they played well.”

With U.P. Finals today, Penegor noted he is hoping for some of his players to step up to make the difference in the final score. At GNC’s, one of those players was ShaunBeauchamp at No. 3 singles.

“We’re always looking for someone to step up and play one of their better games, and last year at the GNC’s we had Connor Smale come out of nowhere and won the four singles,” he said. “At the GNC’s (this year) Shaun Beauchamp did it. … He really stepped up and showed a little extra that day.

“(Beauchamp) played one of the best matches that I’ve ever seen him play in the last couple of years, and I was really proud of him. He really came to play and did really well.”

Now that they have repeated as GNC Champions, the Eskymos head back to Kingsford today to try to achieve the same feat at U.P. Finals and become champions there two years in a row.

“We’re feeling pretty good,” said Penegor. “The one nice thing is we’ve been playing up a Kingsford a lot lately. So, being there just last week and playing there again will almost being like playing on our home court in a little way.”

While the majority of teams will be the same as the ones Esky played last week at the GNC Finals, there will be the added challenge of the Mid Pen Conference Champions Negaunee.

For the Eskymos — who held their last tennis practice of the season yesterday — every match will be vital said Penegor.

“I told the kids that every point is important, and if you play your best tennis, we’re going to be fine just like last year,” he said.