St. Francis Finishes 1st Finals Title Run in Dominating Fashion

By Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com

October 17, 2021

ANN ARBOR — Minutes after his team clinched its first-ever boy tennis Finals championship, Tommy Puetz was still processing the accomplishment. 

“It’s somewhat surreal,” he said. “I was with the team my freshman year, and we finished second that year. It’s pretty surreal to see it all come together, all our hard work in the offseason.”

That it did, and in its 14th try, Traverse City St. Francis went home with a championship trophy after a rain-soaked weekend at the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Pioneer tennis courts. 

St. Francis, the top-ranked team entering the weekend, finished with 34 points, besting 2020 champion Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, which had 27. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian was third, with 19. 

The Gladiators entered with No. 1 seeds in six flights.

“It’s tough being the top seed, especially for high school kids, but they handled the pressure very well,” St. Francis coach Dane Fosgard said. “It's definitely very exciting. This team has worked very hard. For some of them, they've been at it for four years. It’s definitely a huge accomplishment for myself and the team.”

A near all-day rain Friday got the tournament off to a slow start, and Saturday’s matches didn’t begin until almost noon at both Pioneer and U-M, where the tournament was played on the outdoor courts before it was moved inside after dark. 

“It’s my 40th year of coaching, and I’ve never had a tournament where on the first day we didn’t get at least to the semifinals,” Liggett coach Mark Sobieralski said. “It’s crazy.”

Liggett kept it close until the final rounds.

"Our goal was to get everyone into the semifinals, and see what happens from there,” Sobieralski said, “We got everyone into the semis, and lost a couple of close ones.”

But in the end, St. Francis, which topped the state coaches poll all season, was not to be denied. 

Hudsonville Unity Christian tennis“They were just ready,” Liggett senior captain Jake Tomlinson said. “They were hungry to win that state title, because they really wanted it last year and we beat them. They were really upset about it, and all year they were grinding to get to this point.”

The Gladiators got into a groove when No. 1 singles player Grant Hedley returned from an injury. 

“When he came back, our team really turned it around,” said Puetz. “We played a lot of good competition through September, a lot of D-1 and D-2 schools, which really prepares us a lot for the state meet.”

Puetz, who started playing tennis in middle school, is the Gladiator whose primary sport isn’t tennis. (It’s golf). 

“All of these guys put in so much work in the offseason to reach this point,” he said., “It all pays off. 

“I started playing because I got free candy for winning,” he recalled, smiling. “And now here I am, a state champion.”

And, Puetz said, despite a long day Saturday, the wait was worth it.

“Ten thousand percent,” he said.

At No. 1 singles, Grand Rapids West Catholic senior Andrew Solarewicz took the final step with his first championship after finishing runner-up at the top flight in 2020. He defeated Liggett’s Sebastian Courtright 6-1, 6-2, in the final. Solarewicz gave up only eight games total this weekend over eight sets and fourth wins.

St. Francis benefitted from championships at No. 2 singles from Tristan Bonanni, No. 3 from Owen Jackson, and No. 4 from Chris Bobrowski; and from doubles flights at No. 1 from Cody Richards and Ben Schmude, No. 2 from Jack Britten and Anthony Spranger, and No. 3 from Charlie King and Derek Berta.

Hudsonville Unity Christian’s Cam Dykstra and Cory Mitchell were the title winners at No. 4.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS Traverse City St. Francis’ Chris Bobrowski celebrates as his team moves toward clinching its first Finals team championship. (Middle) Unity Christian serves during Saturday’s final rounds. (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.”

Kingsford’s Fletcher Hulkkonen follows his serve during a singles match.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.)