West Iron County Goes Distance When Needed to Complete Finals 3-Peat
By
Jack Hall
Special for MHSAA.com
May 27, 2026
KINGSFORD – In the end, Wednesday’s final scoreboard in Kingsford read:
West Iron County 46, Ishpeming 28, Iron Mountain 20.
But that scoreline doesn't show just how hard the Wykons had to work to capture their third-straight MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 2 boys tennis championship.
The Wykons won seven of the eight flights, but the three of the flights had a set that needed a tiebreaker, and two of the flight finals went three full sets.
“I don't even have words for it,” Wykons coach Jim Anderson said. “It's something that we've been planning for the whole year. It's been a goal. And to have a three-peat under our belts is amazing. I'm just thrilled. I'm so happy that the guys had such success today. They've worked incredibly hard throughout the season.
The match that highlighted the afternoon came at first singles between the Wykons' Dominick Brunswick and Iron Mountain's Malakai Broersma. They went back and forth for more than two hours, with both taking momentum, losing momentum, and getting it back again.
Brunswick pulled out the first set by winning a grueling tiebreak, 7-5, that included multiple long rallies.
Then in the second set, Broersma found his footing, winning the first four games before holding off Brunswick to even the match, 6-3.
Both were visibly tired as the match wore on under sunny, 85-degree conditions. Brunswick eventually wore down Broersma, taking the decisive third set, 6-1.
“He just played really well today,” Brunswick said. “He was super-consistent, wasn't making a lot of mistakes, so, he made it so I really couldn't make mistakes myself. In the end, I think it came down to endurance, and to who wanted it more. It feels great to finally win UP's as myself, because in previous years, I've got second. So it means a lot to get one as a senior for me, and to get the three-peat for my team.”
For his part, Broersma admitted that he was completely out of gas, after he also had to win a war in the semifinals over Ishpeming's Kole Bancroft, 7-6, 6-4. It was a lot of pressure tennis for the Mountaineers junior.
“I seem to do that a lot, last year as well, tire myself out,” Broersma said. “That first match I had today against Ishpeming, that felt like forever as well. Oof, I should've taken a longer break. Really, I didn't have a lot of hope at the start. But once I started picking it up, I felt good.”
“But then, I mean, it's hot. I got tired and kind of lost it at the end there. I'm a junior, so I still have a year ahead of me. He's a senior, so I'm happy for him to go out that way.”
The other marathon match was at second singles, with the Wykons' Donte White outlasting Iron Mountain's Seth Greenleaf, 7-6 (8-6 tiebreak), 5-7, and 6-3. That match started right after a 45-minute rain delay ended, and was the final match to be completed to wrap up the tournament.
Anderson praised Brunswick and White, saying that “hard work pays off.”
“I feel like we've progressed so much since we got started in March,” the coach said. “I'm just so proud of them. Dominick had an incredibly hard match. He wasn't feeling well to start the day, so I'm glad he was able to find a way to fight through it. Today is a testament to just how tough he is.”
There was one other team on the court Wednesday: the Gwinn Modeltowners. The Modeltowners did not make it to the finals in any flight, but competed well, scoring 12 points.
“We held our own this year,” Gwinn coach Dan Turecky said. “I think it's one of the better ones (UP Finals) that we've had. Over half of the team have won medals and were in the semifinals, so that was a good showing for Gwinn and the Modeltowners this year.”
Ishpeming, meanwhile, had four boys finish as flight runners-up, and Iron Mountain saw its top three singles players all finish as runners-up.
PHOTOS (Top) West Iron County’s Dominick Brunswick prepares to make contact with the ball during Wednesday’s Upper Peninsula Division 2 Finals. (Middle) Iron Mountain’s Malakai Broersma connects during a volley. (Below) Ishpeming’s Kole Bancroft elevates to send the ball back over the net. (Photos by Jack Hall.)
Holland Christian Wins 6 Flights, Claims 1st Team Championship since 1965
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
October 23, 2024
MIDLAND – Holland Christian, for several years a Lower Peninsula Division 3 boys tennis program, has found Division 4 to its liking this season.
The Maroons captured the Division 4 championship Tuesday at the Midland Tennis Center, rolling to the title with 33 points ahead of runner-up Maple City Glen Lake at 23. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett was third with 21.
Heading into the semifinals, Holland Christian carried a one-point lead over Glen Lake, with University Liggett a distant third with 16 points. The championship was the Maroons’ fifth but first since 1965, with its best Finals finish since coming in second in Division 3 in 1998. They had finished fourth in Division 3 in 2023 before moving into Division 4 for this season.
“We’re used to seeing teams (like) Detroit Country Day and Cranbrook; that’s part of it,’’ said Henry Langejans, a senior on the Maroons top-seeded doubles team with Lucas Van Wieren. “Stepping down to D-4 is a factor. We expected to be here.’’
Holland Christian won six flights, with a sweep at doubles. Langejans and Van Wieren captured the title at No. 1 doubles with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Landen Maltby and Luca Marciano of Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, and Tyler Hemmeke and Gavin Swiftney defeated Liggett’s Griffin Machal and Niko Cooksey at No. 2, 6-3, 7-6. Sophomores Michael Gorno and Graham Tanis prevailed with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Casey Jackson and Brady Thelen of Traverse City St. Francis, and Levi King and Jack DeYoung got the best of Liggett’s Davis Ford and Lucas Ferguson at No. 4 doubles 6-3, 6-4.
Gorno is the son of Holland Christian coach Steve Gorno.
“Playing for my dad is amazing,’’ said Michael. “He has taught me everything I know about tennis. We have a great coaching staff. We’ve been blessed to have our three coaches.
“We’ve been ranked No. 1 all year. We’ve had a target on our backs, so we’ve gotten every team’s best all year.’’
The runner-up finish was Glen Lake’s best all-time, and coach John Voss also noted this season’s Regional title was his program’s first since 2002. “We have players in No. 2 and No. 3 singles so we’ve had a good year,’’ said Voss. “This has been our best year.’’
Lakers senior Michael Houtteman, the top seed at No. 3 singles, said his team’s run started before the season. He defeated Edwin Seo of Berrien Springs, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch his flight.
“A lot of us have been putting the work in before the season,’’ said Houtteman. “We got tennis courts at the school my freshman year. I think a lot of us are playing our best tennis now. We have a lot of seniors. We’re all pretty amped us. A couple of flights lost, but they are out cheering us on as hard as they can.’’
No. 1 singles was a battle between friends: Freshman top-seed Oliver Caldwell of Grand Rapids West Catholic and Owen Jackson of Traverse City St. Francis.
After entering the Finals 1-1 against each other, Caldwell prevailed this time, winning 6-2, 6-3.
“He was the only person I lost to this year,’’ said Caldwell. “I’ve had a great season. He’s a great player. We go way back. I used to live in the Traverse City area, and we went to the same tennis school.’’
Holland Chrisitan’s Dylan Becksvoort defeated Hawthorn Sutherland of Glen Lake 6-3, 7-5, to win No. 2 singles. At No. 4, Holland Christian freshman Nicco Grosso defeated senior Hayden Riley of Lansing Catholic 6-1, 6-3.
“I’m kind of emotional right now because I’ve been working all year for this,’’ said Grosso. “Since the summer, Coach has had this planned out. We didn’t necessarily have the lineup, but the plan was there.’’
PHOTOS (Top) Holland Christian’s Lucas Van Wieren winds up during a No. 1 doubles match Tuesday at Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) The Maroons’ Tyler Hemmeke serves at No. 2 doubles. (Below) Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Oliver Caldwell shows intensity during a No. 1 singles match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)