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.)
3-Set Doubles Finale Provides Perfect Finish to Marquette's Repeat Run
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 27, 2026
WEST ISHPEMING — The outcome of the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Boys Tennis Finals boiled down to results of the No. 2 doubles match Wednesday at Westwood.
Marquette junior Bode Helman and Conner Dunn put the finishing touches on a perfect season with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over Negaunee’s Vince Tincknell and Marshall Knapp on a sunny and mild afternoon.
Their victory also enabled the Sentinels to retain their title with 17 points.
Marquette was followed by Negaunee with 15 points, Kingsford with 12, Ishpeming Westwood at 6, Escanaba at 5 and Gladstone with 1.
“Having to go three sets made it all the more satisfying,” Helman said. “I thought maybe we’d lose after they went ahead in the third set, but once we got ahead 2-1 it felt like we had the momentum. Our overhead shots worked pretty good. I think that may have gotten them out of position.”
Marquette coach Karl Thomsen believed victories at No. 1 singles and doubles played major roles.
“They came to play,” he said. “They got some points, and winning No. 1 singles was unexpected. The guys saw that and they responded.
“No. 2 doubles was fun for everyone involved. They put on quite a show. Negaunee is so mentally tough, and they’ve been champions for many years. We knew it’d be a three-way battle today.”
Marquette’s Lucas Belkovich took a 6-2, 6-4 decision from Kingsford’s Landon Adam in No. 1 singles, and Winston Leonard and Conner Henry outlasted Kingsford’s Andy Yu and Clark Robb 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) at No. 1 doubles.
The Sentinels also gained the No. 4 doubles title as Billy Krebs and Jack Tiziani topped Negaunee’s William Derkos and Brady McIntyre 6-3, 6-4.
Negaunee won two flights as Nolan O’Dovero defeated Kingsford’s Isaac Lebouef 7-6 (11-9), 6-3 in No. 2 singles and Connor Stede and Tren Emards posted a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) triumph over Marquette’s Elan Chu and Kane Busch at No. 3 doubles.
Evan Grymes provided Kingsford with its lone flight championship in No. 3 singles as he beat Negaunee’s Max Larson 6-0, 6-1.
At No. 4 singles, Escanaba sophomore Kyle Smith rallied past Marquette sophomore Dominic Camilli 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 much to the delight of his teammates and coach Alan Adams.
“This feels great,” Smith said. “I didn’t play tennis last year and just started playing last year. We’ve gone back and forth all year. I was pretty nervous before the match. Winning the second set was huge. I knew he was down at that time, and I wanted to pick up the pace.”
Smith, who sealed the verdict with a lob into the backcourt, trailed 2-0 in during the final set prior to mounting his comeback.
He also fell behind early in the first set, trailing 1-0 on a return shot which sailed too long and 3-0 on a double-fault.
Smith came back to tie the score at 3-3, but was unable to gain the upper hand.
“Having my teammates sitting on the bench was really energizing and our coach giving me pointers between sets really helped,” he said. “I’m also thankful for having my family coming to support me in the away matches.”
Smith plans to work on his game this summer and hopes to play in the 79th Annual Michigan-Wisconsin Open, Aug. 1-2 in Escanaba.
PHOTOS (Top) Marquette’s Lucas Belkovich drives a forehand during a match at No. 1 singles Wednesday. (Middle) Kingsford’s Landon Adam takes to the air to return a volley at No. 1. (Below) Winston Leonard serves at No. 1 doubles for the Sentinels. (Photos by Randy Ritari.)