GWINN — Westwood dropped just four games in the five contested matches as the Patriots defeated Gwinn 5-0 in a high school boys tennis match played Wednesday.

Nevertheless, Modeltowners coach Dan Turecky thinks his program is making progress.

“Gwinn is rebuilding this year and graduated multiple seniors last year,” he said. “Westwood’s team is pretty solid and coach Sarah Massie has some strong doubles players this year.”

The Patriots didn’t lose a game in the two doubles matches won by Ryan Lafountain and Chase Prophet at No. 1 and Gabe Tossava and Nick Salzwedel at No. 2.

Gwinn had its best success at No. 2 singles, where Westwood’s Bryce Markham prevailed 6-2, 6-1 over the Modeltowners’ Jude Andrews.

In addition, at No. 1 singles, the Pats’ Andrew Niemi downed Gwinn’s John Deatrick 6-1, 6-0.

Westwood No. 3 singles player Patrick Klumpp also won without dropping a game.

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Negaunee 6, Marquette 2

On Wednesday in Negaunee, the Miners made hay in singles, dropping just eight games in four matches to improve to 7-1.

Doubles is where the meet got interesting, as the teams split those four matches, two of them going to a third set and two that included a tiebreaker.

Both a tiebreaker and third set were needed at No. 3 doubles, where the Redmen’s Toby Camilli and Seppi Camilli prevailed 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-3 over the Miners’ Zack Brundage and Gavin Jacobson.

Negaunee countered that with a victory at No. 4 doubles as Brandon Borlace and Ethan Harris took a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) victory over MSHS’ Holden Hutter and Bodehi White.

“There were a lot of good matches today, especially in doubles,” Miners head coach Kyle Saari said in an email. “Ethan Harris stepped in and picked up his first varsity win, partnering with Brandon. Ethan has improved a ton in a short amount of time, and it was good to see him rewarded with his opportunity.”

In addition, Marquette’s No. 1 doubles pairing of William Olivier and Jason Andary needed three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, to dispatch NHS’ James Thomson and Jace Turri.

In singles, Saari was happy to see a strong performance by No. 4 Mick Kumpula, who blanked Marquette’s Nathan Barsch 6-0, 6-0.

“Mick continues to build on his early success, too, which is important for us,” the Negaunee coach said.

Also in singles, Miners’ No. 1 Luke Syrjala, No. 2 Gavin Saunders and No. 3 Tyler Lajimodiere breezed to victories.

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Westwood 5, Iron Mountain 3

On Tuesday at Westwood, the Patriots salvaged one flight in singles to get over the hump and earn the meet victory.

That win was posted by Westwood No. 4 singles player Mason Hietikko, who downed IM’s Reece Kangas 6-3, 6-3.

A doubles sweep enabled Hietikko’s win to make all the difference for the Pats. The toughest doubles match came at No. 4, where Mitchell Ford and Jayce Patron pulled off a big comeback over Carter Kassin and Micah Treiber, 1-6, 6-0, 10-8, the third “set” a pro-style tiebreaker.

No. 1 Ryan Lafountain and Chase Prophet, No. 2 Nick Salzwedel and Gabe Tossava and No. 3 Zak Senske and John Thomsen lost just eight games between them for other Westwood doubles victories.

IM had to pull out two singles matches to make the meet close. No. 1 David Juul eased past the Patriots’ Andrew Niemi 6-4, 2-6, 10-8, while No. 3 Kaden Sheldon pulled away from Patrick Klumpp 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

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Westwood 4, Gladstone 0

On Monday at Westwood, just four flights were contested with the Patriots dropping just one game among the four of them.

Westwood No. 2 singles player Bryce Markham posted a 6-0, 6-1 win over Gladstone’s Landon Fee, with the Pats’ other three wins coming from 6-0, 6-0 matches — No. 1 singles player Andrew Niemi, No. 3 singles Patrick Klumpp and the No. 1 doubles duo of Ryan Lafountain and Chase Prophet.

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