IC tennis player advances to semi-finals of Robinson tennis tournament

PORT HURON — Levi Lengemann, a senior on the Imlay City tennis team this fall, had a solid effort in a tune-up for the upcoming season.

The Spartans returning #1 singles player took part in the 69th annual Francis J. Robinson tennis tournament in Port Huron last week.

The Robinson is named after a local tennis player, Lt. Francis J. Robinson, a young serviceman who died in a military flight training mission in July, 1958. A group of Lt. Robinson’s friends started a small tennis tournament in his honor that same summer. 

The “Robinson” has drawn between 200-400 participants annually, with players 10 and under to 70 and over and is considered one of the longest running community tennis tournaments in the United States. The Robinson unites players from the local tennis community, surrounding Michigan cities, other states and Canada to come together for a fun-filled week of tennis each summer.

The multi-day tournament has historically provided outstanding tennis for fans to watch, both in the female and male divisions.

The Imlay City standout competed in the 18U division. He handled his first round opponent from China, Michigan, winning in straight sets 6-3 and 6-2.

Lengemann followed that up with a hard-fought 7-5 and 6-2 win over William Beck of Fort Gratiot. The win moved him into the semi-finals.

With just four players left in his age group, Lengemann knew the competition would be tougher and that it was.

His semi-final match was moved indoors, due to threatening weather. Fans gathered inside the clubhouse viewing area and were treated to some outstanding tennis on both sides of the net.

In the end, Lengemann saw his gutsy tournament run come to an end with a tough 3-6, 4-6 loss to his opponent from Petrolia, Ontario.

The Spartans begin practice next week and will play their first matches of the year a week later when they travel to Lapeer for a quad meet.