ESCANABA — A quality field is expected to be on hand for the 78th Annual Michigan-Wisconsin Open Tennis tournament here this weekend.

Singles competition begins Saturday, followed by doubles play Sunday.

Matches will be played at the Ludington Park, Royce Park, Veterans Park and the high school courts.

All championship matches take place in Ludington Park, which serves as tourney headquarters. Schedules will be posted there Saturday morning (Aug. 2) with matches starting shortly after.

Juan Guerra, a Division 2 state champion in No. 1 singles at Midland Dow in 2009, will try to defend his Class A singles title Saturday. He’s currently the professional at the Greater Midland Tennis Center.

By winning a year ago, Guerra became the first player born in Colombia, South America to take top honors in this tournament since Enrique Quimbaya won it 50 years ago.

Also in the hunt are past champions Brett Girard of Marquette, who played four years at Michigan Tech, and Holden Ross of Iron River.

Joining them are George Lowe of Kalamazoo College, Traverse City Central freshman Yale Olivier and Dawson Williams of Escanaba and former Esky residents Luke Ogren and Steve Prica.

“We have some good college players in Class A,” tournament director Tom Penegor said. “This is an opportunity for people to see some top-notch tennis. There are also other things they can do during the tournament. Art in the Park is taking place Saturday. There will be music all day long and plenty of food vendors. We also have a beach close by where people can go for a swim.”

Williams, now playing at MTU, was an Upper Peninsula Division 1 champion at No. 1 singles and selected U.P. Player of the Year in 2023.

Ogren, who played and coached at Lake Superior State University, is now head women’s coach at Western Michigan University and Prica is living in Minneapolis.

The tourney had 60 entrants as of Wednesday. Entry forms with payment must be received today to receive a T-shirt and should be sent to the Escanaba Recreation Department, Attn. MI/Wi Tennis, P.O. Box 948, Escanaba, MI 49829. All proceeds go to the Esky tennis program.

“Our goal is to draw more than 100,” Penegor said. “We’re getting more teenagers, including a lot of high school kids, but still need to get more local kids. It’s a great tune-up for the U.P. tennis season for the girls and in the Lower Peninsula for the boys. This is an event which will give them some experience. This is also a lifelong sport. According to the Mayo Clinic, tennis is the No. 1 sport for living longer.”

The M-W Open remains the lone tournament of its kind in the U.P.

“There used to be tournaments in Iron Mountain, Negaunee and Marquette,” Penegor said. “Now we’re down to one. We need to support this U.P. event and lifelong sport. So far we have players from Gaylord, Saginaw, Traverse City, Newberry, Marquette, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Negaunee, Ishpeming Westwood, Wallace, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.”

What keeps this tourney going?

“Escanaba is a tennis community,” Penegor said. “Dennis Lueneburg, Tom Mitchell and Paul Pertile played tennis at Western Michigan University and have contributed where needed. Alan Adams (of Grand Valley State University) and Denny put on lessons and clinics at the high school during the summer. It’s a nice program and they all support it.”

For more information contact Penegor (906-399-4274) or Lueneburg (906-786-2207).