The Negaunee High School girls tennis team won the Mid-Peninsula Conference tournament championship held at the Miners’ courts on Thursday, defeating Westwood players in the finals at six flights, with the Patriots winning the other two over Negaunee players. The Miners team includes, front row from left, Rebecca Lammi, Adelyn Chapman, Nicole Kerkela, Rheana Nelson, Sadie Rogers and Olivia Richards. Top row from left, assistant coach Emma Miller, Tori Poutanen, Stella Lenten, Paige O’Donnell, Clare O’Donnell, Maia Brunette, Lili Saunders and head coach Megan Kerkela. (Photo courtesy Megan Kerkela)

NEGAUNEE — Negaunee won championships at six of the eight flights to claim the title at the Mid-Peninsula Conference tournament in high school girls tennis held Thursday.

Playing at their home courts, the Miners — and actually team runner-up Westwood too — made the finals in all eight flights.

The difference was Negaunee winning in a half-dozen of the finals.

“We ended up with an all Negaunee-vs.-Westwood final,” Miners first-year head coach Megan Kerkela said. “With this being our fourth time playing Westwood this year, the girls came in prepared and knew what to expect.

“All season we have had our goals set, with winning M-PCs as one of them. Every girl knew they had a job to do (Thursday) and it truly was a team effort.”

The Miners finished with 44 points while the Patriots had 36. In third was Ishpeming with 20, while Norway had 14, Iron Mountain 4, Munising 2 and Gwinn didn’t score.

Among Negaunee’s winners was No. 1 singles player Lili Saunders coming back for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Westwood’s Sami Ruby in that championship match.

“Lili Saunders played a great second and third set,” Kerkela said. “She struggled a bit to find her groove in the first set, but found her confidence and finished strong.

“This match tested Lili today, but it shows how much grit and determination she has moving into next week.”

Next week will be the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals for both Divisions 1 and 2, the D-1 final to be played at Westwood at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Patriots will host Negaunee, Marquette, Escanaba, Gladstone, Kingsford and Menominee.

The D-2 final is set for the same time at Kingsford and will feature Ishpeming, Gwinn, Munising, Iron Mountain, Norway, West Iron County and Ironwood.

Back at the M-PC finals, the Negaunee coach was also happy with the performance of No. 4 singles player Adelyn Chapman, who took that title with a 6-1, 6-1 finals win over Westwood’s Emmi Hamel.

“Adelyn Chapman stepped up big (Thursday), starting the day as a No. 2 seed,” Kerkela said. “She is hitting the ball incredibly well right now and was able to pull off a 6-1, 6-1 win.”

The Miners also got a championship at No. 2 singles when Rheana Nelson downed the Patriots’ Morgan Schneider 6-3, 6-3 in the finals.

Negaunee added in three doubles titles, too.

At No. 1, the Miners’ Clare O’Donnell and Nicole Kerkela recorded a 6-2, 6-1 win over Westwood’s Kaylin Doney and Niila Nurmi in that final; at No. 2, Negaunee’s Sadie Rogers and Olivia Richards put down a 6-4, 6-0 win over the Patriots’ Makenna Olson and Ella Stacy in their title match; and at No. 4, the Miners’ Paige O’Donnell and Maia Brunette posted a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Westwood’s Emerson Williams and Lauren Michaud-Richards in that final.

Westwood got both of its victories at No. 3 flights.

In singles, the Patriots’ Lyn Magnuson held off Negaunee’s Stella Lenten 6-1, 6-2 in the title match, while in doubles, it was Westwood’s Tessa Burke and Emmi Carlson pulling out a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 triumph over the Miners’ Tori Poutanen and Rebecca Lammi in that final.

Ishpeming was dominant in the third-place matches, winning six of them. Those victors were No. 2 Sophia Nerlfi, No. 3 Frankie Stetson and No. 4 Camryn Miller in singles, and No. 1 Ava Lapin and Stella Nerlfi, No. 2 Lilly Ryan and Janelle Seelen, and No. 3 Lydia Seelen and Jenessa Eagle in doubles.

Munising’s best showing was a fourth place from its No. 1 doubles tandem of Keria Albright and Tamryn Nolan.

M-PC Tournament

Thursday at Negaunee

Team scores — 1. Negaunee 44, 2. Westwood 36, 3. Ishpeming 20, 4. Norway 14, 5. Iron Mountain 4, 6. Munising 2, 7. Gwinn did not score

Championship matches with 3rd place

SINGLES — No. 1, Lili Saunders (NEG) def. Sami Ruby (W) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2; 3rd, Jordyn Moln (NOR). No. 2, Rheana Nelson (NEG) def. Morgan Schneider (W) 6-3, 6-3; 3rd, Sophia Nerlfi (ISH). No. 3, Lyn Magnuson (W) def. Stella Lenten (NEG) 6-1, 6-2; 3rd, Frankie Stetson (ISH). No. 4, Addi Chapman (NEG) def. Emmi Hamel (W) 6-1, 6-1; 3rd, Camryn Miller (ISH)

DOUBLES — No. 1, Clare O’Donnell-Nicole Kerkela (NEG) def. Kaylin Doney-Niila Nurmi (W) 6-2, 6-1; 3rd, Ava Lapin-Stella Nerlfi (ISH). No. 2, Sadie Rogers-Olivia Richards (NEG) def. Makenna Olson-Ella Stacy (W) 6-4, 6-0; 3rd, Lilly Ryan-Janelle Seelen (ISH). No. 3, Tessa Burke-Emmi Carlson (W) def. Tori Poutanen-Rebecca Lammi (NEG) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2; 3rd, Lydia Seelen-Janessa Eagle (ISH). No. 4, Paige O’Donnell-Maia Brunette (NEG) def. Emerson Williams-Lauren Michaud-Richards (W) 6-3, 6-4; 3rd, Alexis Downs-Amora Humphreys (NOR)

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