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KINGSFORD — As a proud parent might say in fractured syntax — they’re all growed up now.

That an apt description of the Westwood High School girls tennis team at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals, which are being held this week.

For the second consecutive year, the Patriots played in Division 1 after being in Division 2 for many years.

Westwood No. 1 singles player Jillian Koski swings while making a return during a high school girls tennis meet played against Marquette at the Patriots' courts on Monday. (Journal photo by Travis Nelson)

After a solid third-place finish in 2020, Westwood pulled off a decisive victory on Wednesday in the D-1 finals that were held in Kingsford.

This time around, the Patriots scored 20 points to 15 for Negaunee, which had gone through the season undefeated in dual meets.

Escanaba was third with 12, followed by Gladstone with 4, Marquette and Menominee each with 2 and Kingsford, which didn’t score.

As the largest-enrollment Division 2 school, Westwood was the program moved from D-2 to D-1 several years ago due to the introduction of tennis at a small-enrollment school, which was likely Norway.

It was necessary to keep the number of D-1 schools and D-2 schools even at seven apiece.

So after years of being the largest, or sometimes second largest, school in D-2, the Patriots are now the smallest enrollment school in D-1.

It’s 337 listed students for MHSAA purposes are 45 fewer than any other D-1 school and not even close to half the size of the largest school, Marquette, with 934.

But that didn’t stop the, what is in relative terms, pint-size powerhouse from getting a player or pairings in all eight finals on Wednesday.

“I am so proud of these girls for playing the way they did,” Patriots head coach Sarah Massie said. “All season we’ve had our eyes set on U.P.’s and have been constantly talking about being mentally ready to battle and fight through matches.

“That’s exactly what every flight had to do … and I could not be more excited for them to see this level of success.

“This is only our second year playing in the D-1 U.P.’s and it’s been a lot of fun and very eventful so far. Our girls are definitely up for the challenge, as we saw (Wednesday).”

Westwood won four of the eight championship matches, enough to fend off the advances of neighbor Negaunee, which only had representation in five finals, getting three titles.

“Almost every flight played at least one, if not two, three-set matches, and I don’t know if they even understand how crucial some of those wins were in order to give us the team victory,” Massie said.

“We always say that every flight is just as important as the next from (No.) 1 singles down to (No.) 4 doubles.

“We’ve had matches all year where one flight is hot and another is cold. At U.P.’s you never know what is going to happen, what upsets there will be and who will best handle the pressure of the tournament.”

Westwood got its only singles title at No. 4, where Alyssa Couveau fended off the Miners’ Jordan Enright in the championship match, 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles, the Patriots filled in the flights where it didn’t win in singles, taking championships at Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

In the No. 1 championship, Natalie Prophet and Natalie Blanck downed Escanaba’s Abby Hill and Gracie Wickham 6-1, 6-4.

“Our No. 1 doubles team fought through a tough semifinal match against Menominee that put them in the finals,” Massie said. “After losing in the (Mid-Peninsula) conference meet, I knew they were going to fight until the end at U.P.’s, and because of that they’re U.P. champions.”

At No. 2, Lexi Olson and Alyssa Prophet fended off a strong challenge from another Eskymos’ pair, Erica Moore and Delaney McIntyre, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

“Our No. 2 doubles team played the best they’ve played all season … and had to take down the top two seeded teams to win the tournament,” the Westwood coach said. “In their final match, they were down 2-5 in the third set and grinded to tie it up and eventually win in a tiebreaker. I kept reminding them ‘one point at a time.’

“Lexi and Alyssa were given a tough gig this year when we decided to pair them at No. 2 doubles as freshmen.

“I am so proud of them for how they continually improved throughout the season and especially for how they chose to handle themselves … at the U.P.’s. Through the ups & downs of their matches, they played like upper classmen.”

And at No. 3, Hannah Mattila and Hannah Niemi pulled off a big comeback, beating Negaunee’s Madison Frustaglio and Olivia Lunseth, 5-7, 6-0, 6-3.

Massie was also happy with the results put forth by her No. 4 doubles team of Laci Moffatt and Izzie Marta, which lost in its title match to Negaunee’s Aubrey Johnson and Kallen Schultz, 6-1, 6-4.

“Laci and Izzie at (No.) 4 doubles had to play a three-set match in the first round and the second round in order to earn themselves a spot in the finals,” Massie said. “They played, hands down, the best tennis I’ve seen them play all season. They were able to make adjustments in the middle of their matches and earned some crucial points for our team in an unpredictable flight.”

Negaunee also got championships at the top of singles.

At No. 1, Lilly Nelson won her title with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Westwood’s Jillian Koski, while at No. 2, the Miners’ Daylyn Drew downed the Pats’ Lindsay Williams 6-2, 6-2.

The only flight without either a Westwood or Negaunee champion was at No. 3 singles, where the Patriots’ Mallory Leece reached the finals before falling to Escanaba’s Lizzy Sliva 6-2, 6-4.

Marquette picked up its points at the No. 4 flights.

In singles, Natalie Demeau defeated Kingsford’s Ella Rizzo before falling to Enright in the semifinals.

Similarly in doubles, the Redettes’ Payton Bullock and Payton Pleaugh defeated Menominee’s Mallory Barker and Kamryn Olson 6-2, 6-2, before bowing out to Moffatt and Marta in the semis.

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