Westwood Takes Two Tennis Wins In Delta County
ESCANABA---The Westwood Patriots and Escanaba Eskymos were not supposed to meet in a high school tennis dual meet. But when the Patriots came to Delta County on Monday to face the Gladstone Braves, Westwood Coach Sarah Massie thought "let's play two".
So, the Patriots came to Escanaba for a unusual 1:00 start, and picked up an 8-0 win over the Eskymos.
Westwood later beat Gladstone, 7-1.
Westwood has won the last three MHSAA Division Two Upper Peninsula championships, and has won it nine of the last ten years.
"When Sarah approached me about a possible meet I jumped at the opportunity," Escanaba Coach Chris Ogren said. "To become a better team, we need to play better teams and challenge ourselves. It’s good for our girls to see what the top teams are doing, so we have something to strive to grow into.
Westwood's singles players, Madi Koski (6-0, 6-2), Tessa Leece (6-0, 6-2), Jillian Koski (6-0, 6-0), and Jenna Wealton (6-0, 6-1) all won in quick straight-set matches in Escanaba. The Patriots won all four doubles matches, but they were closer matches.
At #1 doubles, Escanaba's Maddy Ide and Alison Sommers took the Patriots' top duo of Karlie Patron and Kaelyn Antila to a tiebreak in the first set, before the Patriots won, 6-3, to take the first set, 7-6. Patron and Antila then battled to a 7-5 win in the second set.
At #3 doubles, Avery Mariuzza and Emily Nelson outlasted Escanaba's Gracie Wickham and Maddy Mishica, 7-5, 6-4.
"Our Number one doubles put up a tough fight today, and could have easily won the match if a few balls had bounced differently," Ogren said. "Three doubles also played a good match against a good opponent."
Later in the day, Westwood beat Gladstone, 7-1.
The Braves #1 singles player, Andie Balenger, won a tough match over Madi Koski, 7-5, 6-2. Balenger has lost just one match this season (Marquette's Alyssa Olivier).
