|
ALMOST PERFECT: Eskymos Win Kingsford Invite
 KINGSFORD---The Escanaba High School boys tennis team won seven of the eight flights to win the Kingsford Invitational on Saturday. It was a six-team tournament, but only the Eskymos and Miners were left standing with boys competing in the finals. The Eskymos finished with 46 points. Negaunee was second with 34 points, followed by Iron Mountain (20) and Kingsford (16). Escanaba's Gunner Dlugas got revenge on Negaunee's Luke Syrjala in the #1 singles final. Syrjala had beaten Dlugas Thursday in two tight sets, but this time, Dluags won, 7-6 and 6-0. At #2 singles, Escanaba's Nathan Howes dusted off Negaunee's Gavin Saunders, 6-1, 6-1, in the finals. Those two were locked in a long match Thursday when the rains came in Negaunee, with Saunders trying to hold off Howes in the second set of a 6-5 match. At #3 singles, Negaunee got its lone victory, as Tyler Lajimodiere defeated Connor Smale, 7-5 and 6-4. Escanaba's Sam Rivera won at #4 singles, 7-5, 6-2, also over Negaunee. In doubles play, the Eskymos dominated, just as they did in Thursday's incoplete 4-3 dual meet loss in Negaunee. At first doubles, Esky's Isaac Maki and Dawson Williams squeezed past Negaunee's Jace Turri and James Thoronton, 6-3, 6-2. The Esky duo also won on Thursday, 6-0, 6-2. At second doubles, Escanaba's Joe Hubert and Josep Montel cruised to the win, 6-3 and 6-2, over the Miners' Gavin Downey and Bryce Storms. At third doubles, it was a marathon match for Troy Delvaux and Evan St. Peter, topping Negaunee's Gavin Jacobson and Zack Brundage, 7-6 (tiebreak), 4-6, and 6-2. And at fourth doubles, the Eskymos completed the sweep with Parker LaFond and Andrew Lord teaming up for a straight sets win (6-4, 6-2). Iron Mountain, Kingsford, and West Iron County all battled in third place matches. Menominee also competed in the invitational, but did not win any matches, losing all eight flights in the first round. |
