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Miners dominate tennis tournament

Boys Tennis

By RYAN STIEG

For The Daily News

NEGAUNEE — It looks like another Upper Peninsula Finals championship could be on the horizon for the Negaunee High School boys tennis team.

The Miners won their own tournament, the Negaunee Invitational, Saturday in impressive fashion by taking six of eight championship matches to finish with 52 points. Westwood was second in the eight-team field with 36 points followed by Kingsford third with 33. Menominee was fourth, followed by West Iron County, Marquette, Gladstone and Gwinn.

“Our team is in a good position right now,” Negaunee head coach Kyle Saari said. “The goal isn’t just to get to the final, and by taking all six of the finals we were in, it’s a good sign of our mental toughness.

“Our goal is to play our best on the last day of the year and I think our schedule sets us up nicely to do that. I think today gave our younger players a chance to see what it takes to win a tournament and that will prepare them well for the last two meets.”

Despite being shorthanded, Kingsford won one championship with the No. 1 doubles team of Tyler Beauchamp and Preston Strong, while teammates Brett Hicks and Nick McCole finished second at Nos. 2 and 3 singles, respectively.

“I’m missing four doubles players today and I think if they were here, the outcome would be different,” Flivvers head coach Mark Shanks said. “However out of the kids who were here, I thought we did well. We had three kids in the finals despite being wounded, so that’s great.

“The good thing is that we’ll all be back next week for our conference meet and the U.P.”

West Iron County, which finished with 26 points, took second place at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles. Head coach Joe Serbentas likes how things are lining up for his squad as U.P. Finals approach.

“Our doubles looked really great today,” he said. “We had two in the finals and the other two doubles finished third, so it was an impressive day.

“In singles, we had a couple first matches that just didn’t go our way, but we fought hard. I really think we are heading in the right direction. Anything can happen on one day, though, and I think we have a good chance at winning All-U.P.”

Team scores — 1. Negaunee, 52: 2. Westwood, 36; 3. Kingsford, 33; 4. Menominee, 30; 5. West Iron County, 26; 6. Marquette, 24; 7. Gladstone, 12; 8. Gwinn, 7

Championship matches, 3rd-place finishers:

SINGLES: No. 1 — Alec Olivier (MQT) def. Jon Antilla (MEN) 6-1, 7-5; 3rd, Eric Hurst (N); No. 2 — Luke Skewis (N) def. Brett Hicks (K) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6); 3rd, Jake Anglehart (MEN); No. 3 — Thomas Sertich (N) def. Nick McCole (K) 6-3, 6-3; 3rd, Adam Hytinen (WWD); No. 4 — Chas Kumpula (N) def. Anthony Couveau (WWD) 5-7, 6-4, 6-0; 3rd, Tyler Kuester (MEN).

DOUBLES: No. 1 — Tyler Beauchamp-Preston Strong (K) def. Brandon Henschel-Kevin Ballinger (WIC) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-0; 3rd, Klay Ronn-Peyton Anderson (N); No. 2 — Jakson Sager-Drew Lindberg (N) def. Jared Anttila-Bryce Traver (WWD) 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 4-2 (retired); 3rd, Dante Thurston-Tyler McCarthy (WIC); No. 3 — Jacob Talaga-Darius Provost (N) def. Steve Nelson-A.J. Weisnicht (WIC) 6-3, 6-3; 3rd, Jacob Adriano-Zach Niemi (WWD); No. 4 — Jake Larson-Evan Hassell (N) def. Seth Smith-Matt LaFountain (WWD) 6-4, 6-2; 3rd, Christian Benson-Dawson Rybicki (WIC).

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