Escanaba sophomore Jacob Prey prepares to return a ball during the U.P. Finals on May 28, 2025 at Ludington Park tennis courts in Escanaba. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — For the first time ever Escanaba was the host site for the Division 1 U.P. boys tennis finals.

There were six teams from the U.P. here including last year’s champions the Negaunee Miners, who came up short in their defense of their title.

Marquette came away with the victory with 17 points edging Negaunee which came in second with 14 points. Kingsford finished third with 13, Escanaba finished fourth with seven, Westwood finished fifth with four and Gladstone was sixth with one.

For the Sentinels it was the first U.P. title in 16 years with the last one coming in 2009.

“I’m super proud of these guys and the effort they have put in,” Marquette coach Karl Thomsen said. “The work they have put in over the last three years to get the program back where it used to be really shows up in the results this season.”

The Eskymos’ best performance came at No. 2 doubles as Adam Prey and Caden Fulsher defeated Negaunee’s Carson Lajimodiere and Quinn Walters 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the finals where they fell to Lucas Belkowski and Conner Henry of Marquette 7-6(5), 6-3.

“It was another very tight match,” Esky coach Tom Penegor said. “We were serving at 5-4 and didn’t get it then again at 6-5 and didn’t get it then it goes to a tie-breaker and we lose it 7-5. That is really tough on the emotions, tennis is a very mental game and it definitely had an impact on us today. Prey and Fulsher matched up with Belkowski and Henry at the GNC’s where the same outcome happened there. Belkowski and Henry were the only doubles team to defeat Prey and Fulsher all season.

“I think we played well overall,” Fulsher said. “It was tough to lose the tie-breaker in the first set but Adam had a good game. We played well, just didn’t have enough to get it done.”

The Eskymos also picked up wins at No. 2 singles as Connor Howes defeated Westwood’s Mitchell Ford 6-1, 6-1 and at No. 4 singles where freshman Chris Economopoulos defeated James Blair of Gladstone 6-2, 6-4.

In doubles action Esky’s Andrew Lord and Alex Morgan defeated Gladstone’s Max Wilson and Gideon Barron 6-0, 6-2. No. 3 doubles action saw Esky’s Loic Fletcher and Lagan Stephens defeat Gladstone’s Blake Lesnieski and Nick Thill 6-2, 6-0.

At No. 4 doubles, the Esky duo of Nick Garcia and Brandon Gardner defeated Logan Veeser and Max Beauchamp of Gladstone 6-1, 6-1.

Singles championships

No. 1 Thomsen, M, def. Moore, K, 6-2, 6-3; No. 2 Adam, K, def. Harris, N, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; No. 3 Store, N, def. Grymes, K, 6-3, 6-2; No. 4 Chu, M, def. Larson, N, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3

Doubles championships

No. 1 Lebouef-Crockford, K, def. O’Dovero-Guenette, N, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; No. 2 Belkowski-Henry, M, def. A. Prey-Fulsher, E, 7-6(5), 6-3; No. 3 Dunn-Leonard, M, def. H. Tincknell-V. Tinckell, N, 6-3, 6-2; No. 4 Bush Helman, M, def. Robb-Yu, K, 6-2, 6-0