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KINGSFORD — Negaunee captured championships at four flights as the Miners edged Escanaba for the team championship at the Kingsford Invitational high school boys tennis tournament on Saturday.

After those two schools tied each other 4-4 in a dual meet in Negaunee on Thursday, it wasn’t a surprise that they also dueled for the tournament crown, too.

Esky won three of the four remaining flights, but West Iron County got in the way by taking the title at No. 2 singles.

Negaunee's Will Luke returns the ball during a singles match against Marquette's Nick Olivier at Marquette Senior High School on May 8, 2019. (Journal file photo)

The Miners scored 34 points to 32 for the Eskymos. WIC was third with 25, while the host Flivvers had 13, Iron Mountain five and Menominee four.

“This tournament was a great one in preparation for the (Upper Peninsula Finals),” NHS head coach Kyle Saari said. “We knew there would be challenges across the board coming in, and several kids responded.”

Winning titles for Negaunee in singles was No. 1 player Will Luke, with a tight 7-5, 6-4 victory in the finals against Escanaba’s Gunner Dlugas, and No. 4 Mick Kumpula, who took a bit easier 6-1, 6-3 decision over the Eskymos’ Connor Smale in his final.

Both those Negaunee players scored wins over those Escanaba players in Thursday’s dual.

Winning in doubles for the Miners was the No. 1 duo of Nick Jacobetti and Preston Toutant with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Kingsford in their finale, and the No. 4 tandem of Nathan Marcotte and James Dank over Esky’s Evan St. Peter and Brayden Roberts in the title match.

“Preston and Nick had an incredible day and really took their game to another level,” Saari said. “Our (No.) 4 doubles deserve a lot of credit, too. Nathan and James are two quiet kids, but they did what they needed to all week at that flight. Mick hit the ball real well (Saturday), too.

“We’re learning how to close out tight situations still, and (Saturday) really showed we’re making strides. It was a nice team win.”

Also reaching the championship match at their flight was Negaunee No. 2 singles player Luke Syrjala and No. 2 doubles pairing of Gavin Saunders and James Thomson.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.