Escanaba junior Reid Brazeau returns a ball against Kingsford on May 21, 2024 at Pfotenhauer Park in Gladstone. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — It was a beautiful day for the 2024 Great Northern Conference tennis match in Escanaba and Gladstone before the rain came down, leaving one match incomplete on Tuesday.

Marquette won the tournament with a score of 36, Escanaba finished second with 27 points, Kingsford was third with 23 points, West Iron County was fourth with 19 points, Gladstone was fifth with 12 points and Munising was sixth with two points.

Escanaba senior Jackson Cousineau had a third place finish and had one of his best performances as a player on the court.

Reid Brazeau of Escanaba faced Caden Lauren in the number three singles championship with Brazeau taking the first set 6-3, dropping the second set 3-6 and Brazeau was serving 40-30 when the rain came and ended action for the day.

Brazeau picked up a victory over Kingsford’s Fletcher Hulkkonen in a pair of 6-2 sets that were closer than the score indicated.

“I was hitting really well today,” Brazeau said. “I had a bye in the first round and had a really long first match.

Hulkkonen advanced to play Brazeau after defeating Wykons Dominick Brunswick 7-6(6), 6-2. “I was really looking forward to playing in this match,” Hulkkonen said. “I came in with a good mindset and the first match was good.”

Kingsford freshman Evan Grymes picked up a pair of wins over Escanaba’s Loic Fletcher and Gladstone’s Tyler Soderman to advance to the championship. “It felt good out there,” Grymes said. “I had a lot of close matches and the last one against Gladstone went three sets.”

Escanaba had its best production in doubles matches as Nick Chaillier and Andrew Lord picked up wins over Kingsford and Marquette to advance to the championship against West Iron County winning 6-3, 6-0 in two sets. In three doubles action Adam Prey and Caden Fulsher defeated West Iron County to advance to the championship against Marquette winning 6-4, 6-3 in two sets. “I feel it was a good day overall,” Escanaba coach Tom Penegor said. “We got into the championship in five of the eight flights and lost a couple close ones, but the weather was nice til the end and the courts were in great shape and it was good for our community to be able to watch the kids compete.”

Teams will know prepare for the UP Finals on May 29 at Marquette.

Singles Championships

No. 1 — Barsch, MQT def. Moore, K 7-6(3), 6-2; No. 2 — Thomsen, MQT def. Adam, K 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 — Match not complete; No. 4 — Chu, MQT def Grymes, K 7-6(5), 7-6(1).

Doubles Championships

No. 1 — Chaillier-Lord, E def. Holm-Alexa, WIC 6-3, 6-0; No. 2 — Kentala-Stade, MQT def. Romps-Morgan, E 7-6(4), 7-6(0); No. 3 — Prey-Fulsher, E def. Schumann-Janokski, MQT 6-4, 6-3; Helman-Henry, MQT def. Gardner-Garcia, E 6-4, 6-2.