By STEVE BROWNLEE

Journal Sports Editor

MARQUETTE — For a high school boys tennis meet with no matches going three sets, Marquette got caught up in quite a battle with visiting Kingsford on Monday afternoon.

That’s because the meet included a tiebreaker and five other sets decided with a 7-5 score as MSHS prevailed 6-2.

“The guys know they are in the heart of the schedule right now and I was extremely pleased with how they answered the call,” MSHS head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email detailing the result. “On the doubles side of the fence, our Nos. 1, 3 and 4 teams did a great job of solving the puzzle.”

Marquette swept the doubles matches, but not without some pushback by the Flivvers. At No. 1, Abe Kentala and Connor Stade survived a 7-5, 7-5 nailbiter over Kingsford’s Isaac LeBouef and Jacob Crockford.

“I was really proud of the grit Abe Kentala and Connor Stade showed at No. 1 doubles,” Thomsen said.

At No. 3, Winston Leonard and Connor Dunn got through a tough first set to take a 7-5, 6-1 win over KHS’ Gavin Strong and Levi Stauber, while at No. 4, Billy Krebs and Cam Mileski won 6-3, 6-2 over Clark Robb and Andy Yu.

In singles, the Sentinels’ coach was quite encouraged by No. 4 singles player Elan Chu holding on for a 6-3, 6-3 win over Fletcher Hulkonen.

“Elan Chu played great,” Thomsen said. “He is starting to complete his swings, hit through the ball and keep the ball deep in the court. Playing like that makes it tough on his opponents.”

Marquette also got a win from No. 1 singles player Chase Thomsen and No. 2 doubles tandem of Lucas Belkowski and Conner Henry.

The closest match was one of the two won by Kingsford — Evan Grymes outlasted the Sentinels’ Brady Janofski at No. 3 singles, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.

After taking today off, Marquette hosts Negaunee at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday before hitting the road for a return meet vs. the Flivvers at 4:30 p.m. EDT Thursday.

Box score:

Marquette 6, Kingsford 2

Monday at Marquette

SINGLES — No. 1, Chase Thomsen (M) def. Gavin Moore 6-2, 6-1; No. 2, Landon Adam (K) def. Caden Laurn 7-5, 6-1; No. 3, Evan Grymes (K) def. Brady Janofski 7-6 (7-4), 7-5; No. 4, Elan Chu (M) def. Fletcher Hulkonen 6-3, 6-3

DOUBLES — No. 1, Abe Kentala-Connor Stade (M) def. Isaac LeBouef-Jacob Crockford 7-5, 7-5; No. 2, Lucas Belkowski-Conner Henry (M) def. Beau Bracket-Alex Hemgren 6-0, 6-1; No. 3, Winston Leonard-Connor Dunn (M) def. Gavin Strong-Levi Stauber 7-5, 6-1; No. 4, Billy Krebs-Cam Mileski (M) def. Clark Robb-Andy Yu 6-3, 6-2

Negaunee 8, Gwinn 0

On Monday at Gwinn, the Miners swept through five of six contested flights without a single lost game in an 8-0 whitewash at Gwinn in a high school boys tennis meet held Monday afternoon.

Negaunee improved to 4-0 with a jampacked schedule this week — not only does it have matches today, Wednesday and Thursday, but the Miners are scheduled to participate in the Kingsford Invitational on Saturday morning.

“Everyone played well to begin the week, which is helpful with a busy week ahead,” NHS head coach Kyle Saari said in an email detailing the result.

Negaunee plays at Gladstone at 4 p.m. today, then goes to Marquette at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday before coming home to host Escanaba at 4 p.m. Thursday.

“Jhon (Jarvi) and Kolten (Store) give us another strong doubles team, and the best thing for us as a team right now is to just go and compete,” Saari said. “Ethan (Harris) has had a consistent start and all of his game is pretty smooth at the moment.”

Jarvi and Store at No. 2 doubles and Harris at No. 1 singles were both 6-0, 6-0 winners over their Modeltowners’ opponents.

So were Miners’ No. 3 singles player Max Larson, the No. 1 doubles duo of Hank Tincknell and Eli Cody, and No. 3 doubles pairing of Michael Enright and Marshall Knapp.

Gwinn’s Mason Kovarik put up the best opposition at No. 2 singles, where Negaunee’s Easton Alkire prevailed 6-3, 6-2.

Box score:

Negaunee 8, Gwinn 0

Monday at Gwinn

SINGLES — No. 1, Ethan Harris (N) def. Logan Jandreau 6-0, 6-0; No. 2, Easton Alkire (N) def. Mason Kovarik 6-3, 6-2; No. 3, Max Larson (N) def. Gunner Nordeen 6-0, 6-0; No. 4, Brady Johnson (N) won by default

DOUBLES — No. 1, Hank Tincknell-Eli Cody (N) def. Hunter Beltz-Jakob Smith 6-0, 6-0; No. 2, Jhon Jarvi-Kolten Store (N) def. Levi Monarch-Vinnie Grossoehme 6-0, 6-0; No. 3, Michael Enright-Marshall Knapp (N) def. Jayden Noloppa-Fallen Anderson 6-0, 6-0; No. 4, Easton Guenette-Nolan O’Dovero (N) won by default

Story contents based on emails received from Marquette head coach Karl Thomsen and Negaunee head coach Kyle Saari. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.