Click the thumbnails for photos and to hear the radio interview with Dawson Williams.
ESCANABA---The Escanaba High School boys tennis team won the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division One championship in each of the last two years. This spring, with the Negaunee Miners so deep and talented at every flight, the Eskymos knew it would be a long shot this time around, and, sure enough, the Miners rolled to the UP title.
But they didn't get all eight flights. Escanaba senior captain Dawson Williams managed to win the first singles title, beating his two chief rivals along the way. And this week, Williams was rewarded with the Division One Upper Peninsula Player of the Year award, as picked by all of the coaches from around the U.P.
“When my senior year came, I put in the time, and the work, and to finally come out successful, Player of the Year at #1 singles, it just seems so surreal to me,” Williams said. “It means everything. Closing out my senior year with that award means everything to me.”
“Dawson usually led more by example, but occasionally, would become more vocal,” Escanaba Head Tennis Coach Tom Penegor said. “Dawson worked hard all three years, but worked the hardest this past year, playing in Marinette and also at Michigan Tech. He would drive to Marquette and play with a variety of other good players.”
Williams is just the sixth Escanaba tennis player in the 45-year history of the program to win the first singles championship in the Upper Peninsula. The last was Jeno Sederno, who did it in 2009. Williams went 22-1 this season after being part of the undefeated U.P. Champion first doubles team last season.
Williams credits his opponents, Menominee's Brock Murphy and Negaunee's Luke Syrjala, for helping him to get better. Williams lost the first set to Murphy in the semifinals at the U.P. Finals, before rallying to win in three sets. And he beat Syrjala in the championship match, avenging the only loss he had in the whole season.
“I knew it was going to be those two as being the toughest ones,” Williams said. “Brock is like a backboard. No matter what I do with him, he's just gonna hit it back, hit it back, and just wait for me to make the mistake. Luke will go for the big shots. He goes for the big winner, so I kind of have to be the backboard with Luke. I just have to keep it in long enough for him to make the mistake.”
He says having to play different styles helped him to succeed at U.P. Finals.
“Big rallies, amazing points from both players,” Williams said. “Big serves, too. The goal in high school tennis is just, who can persevere the longest is gonna decide the match. I really wanted to be a U.P. Champion.”
Williams was also an All-State selection, along with Syrjala. The Negaunee doubles team of Jace Turri and James Thompson were also All-State.
Negaunee Coach Kyle Saari was named the Coach of the Year.
All of the award winners are posted below:
Player of the Year : Dawson Williams (Escanaba)
Coach of the Year : Kyle Saari (Negaunee)
All-State Singles Dawson Williams, Escanaba (#1s) Luke Syrjala, Negaunee (#1s)
All-State Doubles Jace Turri / James Thomson, Negaunee (#1d)
All - U.P. First Team
Luke Syrjala, Negaunee (#1s)
Gavin Saunders, Negaunee (#2s)
Jace Turri / James Thomson, Negaunee (#1d)
Gavin Downey / Gavin Jacobson, Negaunee (#2d)
Dawson Williams, Escanaba (#1s)
Sam Rivera, Escanaba (#2s)
Andrew Niemi, Westwood (#1s)
Matt Barsch, Marquette (#1s)
Isaac Nash, Kingsford (#1s)
Ben Trevillian / Gabe Lafreniere, Kingsford (#1d)
All - U.P. Honorable Mention
Mick Kumpula, Negaunee (#3s)
Tyler Lajimodiere, Negaunee (#4s)
Philip Nelson / Zack Brundage, Negaunee (#3d)
Ethan Harris / Brandon Borlace, Negaunee (#4d)
Chase Thomsen, Marquette (#2s)
Gavin Moore, Kingsford (#2s)
Eli Wallis / Jacob Saari, Kingsford (#2d)
Isaac Johnson/Keaton Ansell MQT (#1d)
Liam McFarren/Andrew King MQT (#2d)
Mitchell Ford / Nick Salzwedel, Westwood (#1d)
Thomas Tackman / Nick Matthews, Gladstone (#1d)
Vlad Osterdahl / Parker LaFond, Escanaba (#1d)
