Courtesy photo The Escanaba Eskymos tennis team after taking second place at the six team Kingsford Invitational Saturday in Kingsford. From left to right: Coach Alan Adams, Isaac Maki, Troy Delvaux, Brayden Roberts, Coach Tom Penegor, Ryan Moreau, Tanner McDonald, Jordan Nance, Viktor Pospisil, Nathan Howes, Dawson Williams, Joe Hubert and Shaun Beauchamp.

KINGSFORD — The Escanaba boys tennis team (6-1-1) finished second — and came back home with some hardware — at the Kingsford Invitational Saturday in Kingsford.

The event featured a total of six teams that included — aside from the Eskymos — Negaunee, West Iron County, Kingsford, Iron Mountain and Menominee.

Negaunee won the invite with 35 with Escanaba just two points back in second at 33.

“There were six teams there, and we ended up only two points away from winning it all. So, I thought that was a very successful day,” said Escanaba coach Tom Penegor. “The thing that stuck out the most to me was the kids just had a lot of fun, and they showed lots of improvements.”

One of the highlights of the meet was the final match of the day at No. 1 singles featuring Escanaba’s Gunner Dlugas and Negaunee’s Will Luke.

“That was, in my opinion, the best match (Dlugas) has ever played,” said Penegor. “He came out just a little bit short but narrowed the gap between the first time we played them and this weekend.

“It was the only match going, so everyone was surrounding this match … There’s a little more pressure in those situations.”

Penegor noted that he saw each of his athletes performed better than they have heading into the invite.

“Everyone of our kids improved from our previous matches, which is one of the things we look for,” he said. “They had a good time, supported each other like no other team I’ve coached and they’re getting better, and the kids are seeing it.”

It’s a busy week ahead for the Eskymos that start today with a trip to Marquette to take on the Redmen. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, they are on the road to Kingsford, Menominee and Iron Mountain.

They finish the week with an eight-team invitational in Negaunee.