Written by Tom Pellow for "Negaunee Athletics 1894-1995"

"Although tennis was a popular activity in Negaunee as early as the late 1920s and early 1930s, there was no interest in the game at this time as an interscholastic high school sport. One of the main reasons probably was a lack of competition at the interscholastic level as few schools sponsored the sport.

It was initially tried as a varsity sport for boys at Negaunee High in 1942 and again in 1948, but it did not become a part of the athletic program on a continuing basis until 1964.

That was the year that Bob Brumm, a well known Marquette tennis player and member of the Negaunee High faculty, was selected to coach the Miners.

Competition at that time was limited to dual meets and the annual Upper-Peninsula Tournament, an open event in which schools in all enrollment classifications were eligible to compete.

Brumm directed Negaunee High netters for eight seasons through 1971. He was succeeded by Francis L'Huillier, who served for four years. Eric Prusi took the reins in 1975 and remained through the 1980 campaign. Prusi's 1975 team won the Mid Peninsula championship.

Successor to Prusi was Bruce Farrell, the current head coach. High school tennis tournaments have been held in two enrollment classifications for the last several years in the Upper Peninsula. Farrell's clubs won U.P. Class C-D championships in 1983, 1984, and 1989. Individual titleists have included Gregg Gustafson and Kevin Hemmila, doubles in 1979; Gerry Pirkola, singles in 1981 and 1982. The Miners have finished as Mid-Pen Conference runner-up in 1988, '89, and '91. In 1989, the Miners were U.P. champions after being runners-up in 1988."


Coach History:
Bob Brumm 1964-1971
Fran L'Huillier 1972-1975
Eric Prusi 1976-1979
Bruce Farrell 1980-2000
Dan Skewis 2001-2003
Kevin Jacobson 2004-2006
Kyle Saari 2007-