Lumen Christi Nets Historic Team Title, Lansing Catholic's West Adds to Family Haul
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
October 22, 2026
MIDLAND – Fueled by a runner-up finish a year ago, Jackson Lumen Chisti captured its first MHSAA Finals boys tennis championship Thursday at the Midland Tennis Center.
The Titans finished the two-day Lower Peninsula Division 4 tournament with 24 points, while Ludington rallied to tie Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett for second with 20.
Lumen Christi had six contenders reach the semifinals out of eight flights.
“We came up short last year, but we had a lot of guys coming back,’’ said senior Maden Brady, part of the No. 2 doubles runner-up with sophomore Theo McEldowney. “We made each guy accountable. You had to attend every practice.
“The boys put in so much work. The motivation came from last year, for sure.’’
The team navigated some challenges throughout the season. With no home courts this fall, Lumen Christi played at Spring Arbor University and Jackson High School.
“Our courts were being redone, so we couldn’t even practice at the school,’’ said Shayan Challapalli, a first-year varsity performer who teamed with Gurmilan Singh to win No. 4 doubles. “Sometimes the buses would forget to pick us up. We’ve put in the work. The coaches are great. We’ve been disciplined.”
Ludington had the top seeds – and eventual champions – at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 singles. Senior Oliver Kolb won at No. 2, senior Tyler Keillor took the bracket at No. 3 and senior Ryder Saya placed first at No. 4.
“We have a lot of dedicated guys,’’ Keillor said. “We all just had a common goal, and we worked for that. The whole offseason we worked as hard as we could. It’s difficult to play in the offseason because we don’t have indoor courts, but we find the time.’’
Saya dropped only two games during the entire tournament, claiming his title with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Levi Lamb of Maple City Glen Lake. Saya was unseeded and lost his only match at No. 4 with Ludington playing in Division 3 a year ago.
“I’d be out hitting at midnight,’’ Saya said of his offseason preparation. “After last year, I knew I had to put in the work. There was no skipping practice or taking the day off. I knew I had to do something different this year, and it worked.’’
The Titans’ clinching match Thursday came at No. 3 doubles as Harrison Botke and Vincent Tran defeated Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian’s top-seeded Loan Spangler and Noah Koppenhofer, 6-4, 6-3.
“I moved here from Oklahoma, and the guys took me in right away,’’ Tran said. “I love Lumen Christi, and I love being here.’’
Most of the Titans’ tennis athletes also play hockey.
“Forehand, slap shot; they all work together,’’ said Botke, one of those who hits the ice during the winter.
Lansing Catholic senior Noah West captured the No. 1 singles title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Mateus Pimentel of Goodrich.
Twenty-five years ago, his uncle Kevin Borzenski captured the Division 3 No. 1 singles title for Lansing Catholic on the way to playing at Pepperdine.
“I had never played (Pimentel) before, so I had to figure some things out,’’ said West. “I felt like I was able to grind out more points, and I eased into it and found a way to attack.’’
Kolb won No. 2 singles with a 7-6 (-7-3), 7-5 victory over Edwin Seo of Berrien Springs, and Keillor defeated Justin Platt of Liggett 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 to clinch at No. 3.
Grandville Calvin Christian’s No. 1 doubles team of Matthew Brenzing and John Oliver captured their flight title with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Liggett’s David Ford and Charlie Laethem.
Liggett’s Lucas Ferguson and Ian Moya captured No. 2 doubles, defeating the top-seed Brady and McEldowney, 6-4, 2-6, 6-0. No. 4 doubles saw the Titans’ Singh and Challapalli prevail over Grand Rapids North Pointe’s Ollie Pierpont and Stennson Shatto, 7-5, 6-4.
PHOTOS (Top) Jackson Lumen Christi's Shayan Challapalli hammers a forehand during his and partner Gurmilan Singh's championship match Thursday at No. 4 doubles. (Middle) Lansing Catholic's Noah West returns a volley at No. 1 singles. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Marquette Boys End Negaunee's Reign, Claim 1st Finals Title Since 2009
By
Adam Hinch
Special for MHSAA.com
May 29, 2025
ESCANABA – For the first time Wednesday, Escanaba hosted the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Boys Tennis Finals.
And for the first time in 16 years, Marquette finished as champion, edging Negaunee by three points as the Miners sought to add to their two-year title streak.
Marquette scored 17 points, followed by Negaunee with 14, Kingsford with 13, Escanaba with seven, Ishpeming Westwood with four and Gladstone with one point.
“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.”
In singles action, Chase Thomsen of Marquette picked up the championship at No. 1 defeating Kingsford’s Gavin Moore 6-2, 6-3.
“I was definitely a little nervous for this match coming in,” Thomsen said. “After seeing how they were hitting in the other semifinal, I think I channeled it well and played the best tennis I have played all season.”
Thomsen had a bye in the first round and knocked off Ishpeming Westwood’s Jaxon Alderton 6-4, 6-1 on the way to the championship match.
Kingsford’s Landon Adam picked up the championship at No. 2 singles defeating Negaunee’s Ethan Harris 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Adam also had earned a three-set victory over Escanaba’s Connor Howes 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Negaunee’s Kolten Store picked up the No. 3 singles championship, defeating Kingsford’s Evan Grimes 6-3, 6-2 after previously downing Brant Veeser from Gladstone 6-1, 7-5. Elan Chu of Marquette emerged with a hard fought three-set win over Negaunee’s Max Larson in the No. 4 singles final after earning a three-set win over Escanaba freshman Chris Economopoulos 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
“It was a special moment for all these kids,” Karl Thomsen said. “They watched Negaunee celebrate last season, and it drove them to keep working and it was our goal coming into this season to capture the U.P. Finals.”
In doubles action, Marquette claimed three flight championships. At No. 2, Lucas Belkowski and Conner Henry defeated Escanaba’s Adam Prey and Caden Fulsher in two sets 7-6(5), 6-3 with the first set going to a tie-breaker. Belkowski and Henry also had defeated Jayce Patron and Xavier Grondz of Westwood 6-3, 6-2.
Sentinels Connor Dunn and Winston Leonard earned the No. 3 doubles title clincher over Negaunee’s Hank Tincknell and Vince Tincknell 6-3, 6-2, and teammates Kane Bush and Bode Helman claimed the No. 4 flight with a deciding win over Clark Robb and Andy Yu of Kingsford 6-2, 6-0.
At No. 1 doubles, Kingsford’s duo of Isaac Lebouef and Jacob Crockford defeated Negaunee’s Nolan O’Dovero and Easton Guenette 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The Flivvers pair also defeated Andrew Lord and Alex Morgan from Escanaba in the semifinals 6-2, 6-2.
PHOTOS (Top) Marquette’s Chase Thomsen prepares to serve during a match Wednesday at No. 1 singles. (Middle) Kingsford’s Fletcher Hulkkonen follows his serve during a singles match. (Photos by Adam Hinch.)