WESTWOOD, NEGAUNEE –The Escanaba Eskymos tennis team hit the road for two contests Thursday afternoon and came back home with a win and a tie.

The first meet was in Westwood where the Eskymos downed the Patriots 7-1. They then headed over to Negaunee where they ended up even at 4-4 with the Miners.

Escanaba coach Tom Penegor said one of the best things about the day was the weather.

“The one nice thing about today was the weather was nice,” said Penegor. “It was like 65 degrees, a nice breeze and not too windy. The conditions were real nice, and we did real well.

“Those two sites are the nicest tennis courts in the U.P.”

Against Westwood — a team Penegor said is quite young — Gunner Dlugas picked up the win (6-0, 6-0) over Ryan LaFountain at No. 1 singles, while at No. 1 doubles the team of Ryan Moreau and Viktor Pospisil beat Tony Misale and Bob Papp (6-1, 6-0).

Penegor complimented the performances of both singles and doubles No. 2 athletes for Escanaba.

“At No. 2 singles, Shaun Beauchamp (played well). One of the sets was a tiebreaker. That was a real long match and hard-fought match,” he said. “No. 2 doubles also went three sets. We had Joe Hubert play his first varsity match, and he did a good job. That was his first varsity win.”

Prior to tying the Eskymos, the Negaunee Miners were undefeated.

“Negaunee is a tough team,” said Penegor. “The first time we played them, they beat us 5-3, and we got a bit closer today by tying them.”

Escanaba started the meet down 4-0. dropping early matches. They took the final four to leave as the first team not to lose to Negaunee.

“I was really impressed with our team fighting back the way they did,” Penegor said. There were some long hard-fought matches.”

Nathan Howes was one Escanaba player to battle back, winning at No. 3 singles (1-6, 6-1, 6-0) against Corbin Marshall.

“Nathan Howes was in a seesaw battle,” Penegor commented. “I was really proud of him. He showed a lot of heart out there on the court.”

Moreau and Pospisil also won in three sets — including a tiebreaker — against Nick Jacobetti and Preston Toutant (6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-0) at No. 1 doubles.

Other Eskymos to win against the Miners were the teams of Isaac Maki and Dawson Williams (No. 2 doubles) and Tanner McDonald and Jordan Nance (No. 3 doubles).

Penegor said Escanaba will take today to practice before heading to Kingsford for a six-team meet Saturday.

Vs. Westwood

Singles

No 1. Dlugas, E, def. LaFounain, W, 6-0, 6-0; No 2. — Beauchamp, E, def. Mann, W, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4; No. 3 — Howes, E, def. Prophet, W, 6-1, 6-0; No. 4 — Smale, E, def. Adriano, W, 7-5, 6-2.

Doubles

No. 1 — Pospisil-Moreau, E, def. Misale-Papp, W, 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 — Maki-Hubert, E, def. Niemi-Markham, W, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3; No. 3 — McDonald-Nance, E, def. Tossova-Senske, W, 6-3, 6-1; No. 4 — Roberts-St. Peter def. Klumpp-Chantelois

Vs. Negaunee

Singles

No. 1 — Luke, N, def. Dlugas, E, 6-1, 6-2; No. 2 — Syrjala, N, def. Beauchamp, E, 6-0, 6-1; No. 3 — Howes, E, def. Marsahll, N, 1-6, 6-1, 6-0; No. 4 — Kumpuk, N, def. Smale, E, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles

No. 1 — Pospisil-Moreau, E, def. Jacobetti-Toutant, N, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-0; No. 2 — Maki-Williams, E, def. Saunders-Thomson, N, 7-5, 6-1; No. 3 — McDonald-Nance, E, def. Turri-Jacobson, N, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; No. 4 — Marcotte-Dank, N, def. St. Peter-Roberts, E, 6-1, 6-2