NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee High School boys tennis team bounced back Thursday afternoon from its first loss of the year a day earlier with a 7-1 domination of visiting Escanaba.

On Wednesday, Marquette posted a 6-2 home victory over the Miners for what is thought to be Negaunee’s first dual-meet loss since 2022.

The Miners’ match wins on Thursday included a quite competitive 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) triumph posted by the No. 3 doubles pairing of Eli Cody and Hank Tincknell over the Eskymos’ Loic Fletcher and Logan Stephens.

“Eli and Hank really stood out (Thursday), especially because they kind of avenged their loss from a close match (on Wednesday),” NHS head coach Kyle Saari said in an email detailing the result. “They knew they had to finish when given the chance, and they dug deep against a good team.

“Both of these kids are playing tennis for the first time as a senior, but they’re both leaders and all-around high-character kids who set a great example for our entire lineup.”

Negaunee swept singles while carrying three of the four doubles flights. That included a 6-1, 6-1 win posted by No. 2 singles player Ethan Harris over Esky’s Brandon Gardner.

“Ethan Harris is in a good spot right now,” Saari said. “He’s playing as well as he ever has and swinging free.”

Negaunee is in the midst of a busy time with conference and Upper Peninsula finals coming up over the next few weeks. The Miners take part in the Kingsford Invitational this morning, then play at Westwood at 4 p.m. Monday.

“We’re looking forward to Saturday to play multiple matches in a day,” Saari said. “It’s another opportunity to grow and progress toward what we want to be in a few weeks.”

On Tuesday, Negaunee hosts West Iron County at 4:30 p.m. before taking on a road-trip doubleheader on Wednesday — the Miners play at Iron Mountain at 1 p.m. EDT that day, then take the short trip to Kingsford at 3 p.m. EDT.

If that wasn’t enough, the team also hosts its own Negaunee Invitational starting at 10 a.m. Friday.

Box score:

Negaunee 7, Escanaba 1

Thursday at Negaunee

SINGLES — No. 1, Brady Johnson (N) def. Connor Howes 6-1, 6-1; No. 2, Ethan Harris (N) def. Brandon Gardner 6-1, 6-1; No. 3, Easton Alkire (N) def. Jacob Prey 6-4, 6-3; No. 4, Max Larson (N) def. Chris Economopoulos 6-1, 6-4

DOUBLES — No. 1, Nolan O’Dovero-Easton Guenette (N) def. Alex Morgan-Andrew Lord 6-4, 6-1; No. 2, Adam Prey-Caden Fulsher (E) def. Quinn Walters-Carson Lajimodiere 6-2, 7-5; No. 3, Hank Tincknell-Eli Cody (N) def. Loic Fletcher-Logan Stephens 6-2, 7-6 (7-5); No. 4, Kolten Store-Jhon Jarvi (N) def. Steve Brown-Andrej Jankura 6-0, 6-2

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