Same Score, New Champion: Country Day Takes Back D3 Title by Single Point
October 17, 2026
MIDLAND – Detroit Country Day sophomore Samuel Kole-James didn’t know what was on the line as he navigated a three-set match to complete Saturday’s No. 2 singles bracket at Midland Tennis Center.
But he knew what he had to do to get the job done – and his repeat championship at that flight did a whole lot more for the Yellowjackets.
Kole-James claimed a second-straight title at No. 2 singles – coming back after losing the first set 6-2 to take the next two 7-5 and 7-6(4) – and in doing so scored the clinching point as Country Day pushed past rival Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 34-33 at the top of the standings to retake the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Finals championship.
A year ago, Cranbrook unseated then-reigning co-champion Country Day by the same score.
“I was telling myself to stay positive and just keep in the match,” Kole-James said of his comeback. “But really, I was just hanging in there, just a few more points.
“Nothing (was working) in the first set, and everything after 6-2, 5-2, was working. I’m not going to lie. I could feel the ball. I could feel my game.”
With the exception of Ann Arbor Greenhills entering the mix the last several seasons by sharing the Division 3 title in 2024 and winning it outright in 2022 and 2019, Country Day and Cranbrook have otherwise finished first or second in some order every other season over the last 13.
The Yellowjackets this weekend also secured flight championships from freshman Nicholas Nadjarian at No. 4 singles and sophomore Sasha Kebl and junior Sebastian Shah at No. 4 doubles. Cranbrook won three flights as well.
“I know every time with them it’s a battle, it’s a war, it’s a 50-50,” Country Day coach Nicholas Fiaschetti said. “I feel like our minds today were just on it, and I think that’s the difference for us – our minds were able to focus up when we needed it the most.”
Cranbrook’s flight championships came at No. 1 singles from freshman Jacob Yang, No. 3 singles from junior Eli Rosen, and No. 1 doubles from seniors Ryan VanDyke and Josh Day.
Yang’s clincher admittedly was a stunner, as he held on to defeat 2025 No. 1 singles champ Ricky Jeong 7-6, 3-6, 6-1. The Yellowjackets’ junior had defeated Yang “badly” the first three times they’d faced each other.
“I can’t believe it. I didn’t think I’d get to this position,” Yang said. “It’s just my team – thank you to my teammates over there. They really supported me through everything. They cheered for every point I won. It’s super helpful. … I’m super grateful for them.”
Ann Arbor Greenhills senior Deven Pimputkar and junior Evan Chung won No. 2 doubles, and Holland Christian seniors Jonathan Haig and Carter Leep emerged as fourth seeds to win No. 3 doubles.
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Country Day’s tennis team celebrates clinching the Division 3 championship Saturday at Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) Cranbrook’s Jacob Yang sends a forehand at No. 1 singles. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Negaunee Edges Rest at UP D1 Final
May 28, 2014
By Keith Shelton
Special to Second Half
KINGSFORD – It was a true test of depth, mental toughness and endurance Wednesday at the MHSAA Division 1 Upper Peninsula Tennis Finals at Kingsford High School.
The Negaunee Miners proved, by a slim margin, to have just enough of each to reclaim their foothold as U.P. champions.
Negaunee won with 15 points followed by Menominee’s 12, Kingsford and Marquette with 11, Escanaba two and Gladstone one. The four-team battle that ensued throughout the day made for one of the more enticing Finals events in recent history.
With four flights left finishing, all four teams still had a legitimate shot at the title. Coming down to the final two flights of the tournament, the title was still up for grabs between Negaunee and Menominee.
The Maroons needed to win No. 3 doubles. But they were denied thanks to a thrilling comeback by Anthony Moyle and Rob Loy. After dropping the first set to Aaron Maas and Adam Nolde 6-2, the Negaunee teammates found themselves down 5-0 in the second set before rallying back to win 7-5 and force a third set, which they won 6-4.
"It's unbelievable. It was an amazing comeback," said Loy after securing the U.P. title for his team.
For Loy the victory was also about validation. The junior didn't play last season and had some decision making to do before he came back this year.
"I'm really happy he decided to come back. We won, and it's definitely a good feeling," said Loy's teammate, Moyle.
The pressure of it all coming down to their match in addition to needing to rally back from a 5-0 hole did wear on the teammates, they acknowledged.
"It was nerve-wracking at first. You kind of lost your head. It's tough coming back from being down 5-0," Loy said.
Agreed Moyle, "It's pretty hard. Tennis is probably one of the biggest mind games compared to other sports you play. There's ups and downs everywhere. I'm glad we came out on top."
Negaunee’s Ben Luke at No. 4 singles was still in the midst of his match with Marquette's Justin Flood when the celebration ensued. Soon after Loy and Moyle's victory, Luke got his as well, winning 7-6 (6), 6-2.
Though the pressure was off, he said he kept his composure.
"I was just excited to see that we won, but I was focused on finishing my own match and getting it done," he said.
For Luke, it was a long day, after he went through two three-setters, including over top-seeded Alek Shanks of Kingsford.
Miners coach Kyle Saari praised his team for its mental toughness, which he said keyed its fourth Division 1 title in five years.
"We had kids come through in tough situations mentally," he said. "Ben Luke beat two kids he hadn't beat all year today, and we had that happen in a few flights. We talk about peaking at the end of the year, and that's what we were able to do, so I'm proud of them."
Defending champion Kingsford didn't go down quietly. The Flivvers started the final round hot, taking No. 1 singles and doubles and looking like they were in business for more.
Adam Szabo at No. 1 singles had perhaps the most dominant performance of the day, defeating Marquette's Josh Downs in that final 6-0, 6-1, displaying a razor quick release and a smooth and swift motion. Downs marked Szabo's only defeat during the season, but Wednesday there was no doubt who would finish on top.
The top two tennis players in the Upper Peninsula in Division 1 are both juniors, so the rivalry will no doubt continue into 2015.
"I played with a chip on my shoulder, just really confident. You have to go in that way," Szabo said.
The Flivvers also scored a nice win at No. 3 singles where Chris Roell defeated his season-long nemesis Noah Gannon of Marquette 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
The rivals played three three-set matches this season, all very close. At the Great Northern Conference Tournament earlier this month, it was Gannon who came out on top 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.
"There were some close matches with Noah this year. I knew I could play with him, I knew I could beat him, and I came through," Roell said. "He's the best in the U.P., and he fought right to the end. I credit him. He had a great season. I just got the better of him today."
The Maroons put all four of their doubles flights in the finals, but their lone victory came at No. 4 where juniors Nick Cattani and Colin Merat won a contested match against Kingsford seniors Peter Fornetti and Kevin LeClaire 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
"We just fell short in a couple tiebreakers, and Negaunee played great tennis today," Maroons coach Troy Reuter said. "We had some high goals coming into the year, and the kids worked hard over the summer and winter. They gave it everything they had.
"It's a little disappointing not to take the title, but to be right there, I'm proud of the kids. I can't complain."
PHOTOS: (Top) Negaunee’s Stephen Trawick and Alex Roth continue a volley during their semifinal match at No. 2 doubles Wednesday. (Middle) Kingsford’s Adam Szabo returns a shot en route to winning No. 1 singles. (Photos by Ron Deuter.)