Main hed: Sentinel boys whitewash Gladstone on courts

By STEVE BROWNLEE

Journal Sports Editor

MARQUETTE — Marquette only had a little trouble pulling off an 8-0 shutout victory over Gladstone in a high school boys tennis meet held at the Sentinels courts on Thursday.

Marquette lost just one set, that coming at the highly competitive No. 1 singles flight, and also was taken to a 7-5 final set at No. 2 singles.

Otherwise, the Sentinels lost just seven games in the other six flights combined.

“Our doubles teams really led the way,” MSHS head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email detailing the result. “There has been a lot of competition between themselves at practice, and despite it being early in the season, that competition has brought out the best in them.

“Caden Laurn bumped up to No. 1 singles (on Thursday) and had a heckuva battle with (Gladstone’s) Tyler Soderman.

“I was really happy with how when the points got critical, Caden played his best. It says a lot about Caden’s character and determination.”

Laurn’s victory was 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8) over Soderman, while at No. 2 singles, Marquette’s Brady Janofski prevailed over the Braves’ Teagan Reynolds 6-3, 7-5.

After the Sentinels had Monday’s home meet against Munising canceled, they remain at their own cozy confines for their next three meets, too — at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday against Escanaba, 3:30 p.m. Monday against Kingsford, and the same time on Wednesday, May 7, vs. Negaunee.

Box score:

Marquette 8, Gladstone 0

Thursday at Marquette

SINGLES — No. 1, Caden Laura (M) def. Tyler Soderman 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8); No. 2, Brady Janofski (M) def. Teagan Reynolds 6-3, 7-5; No. 3, Elan Chu (M) def. Brant Veeser 6-3, 6-1; No. 4, Bode Helman (M) def. James Blair 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES — No. 1, Lucas Belkowski-Conner Henry (M) def. Max Wilson-Gideon Barron 6-0, 6-0; No. 2, Abe Kentala-Connor Stade (M) def. Matthew Hagenbush-Sam Headman 6-0, 6-0; No. 3, Winston Leonard-Connor Dunn (M) def. Nick Thill-Blake Lesnieski 6-0, 6-2; No. 4, Billy Krebs-Cam Milewski (M) defe. Logan Veeser-Alex Beauchamp 6-0, 6-0

Negaunee 8, Ishpeming 0

Last Tuesday at Negaunee, the Miners lost just 16 games total over the eight flights in their season opener.

“This spring has been a huge test of patience without any outside prep(aration),” Negaunee head coach Kyle Saari said in an email detailing the meet. “More than ever, this season will be a sprint and everyone will have to improve on the fly.”

He singled out for praise the No. 1 doubles team of Easton Guenette and Nolan O’Dovero, along with No. 4 singles player Max Larson.

“It’ll be real exciting to see Easton and Nolan progress at the top of our doubles lineup,” Saari said after the pair defeated the Hematites’ Cayden Luoma and Grady Gauthier 6-2, 6-3. “Easton had an outstanding spring when we practiced inside, and his length and athleticism are a big advantage at the net.

“Nolan complements him well with his ability to cover all areas of the court.”

Larson defeated Ishpeming’s Gideon Krook 6-4, 6-1.

“Max Larson picked up his first varsity win and has shown some potential early as a freshman,” Saari said. “He’ll continue to grow each day within our program.”

The Miners have a busy schedule this week, playing at Gwinn at 4 p.m. today before hosting a “doubleheader” on Wednesday, playing Ishpeming at 2 p.m. and Munising at 4 p.m. And Negaunee also hosts Westwood at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Box score

Negaunee 8, Ishpeming 0

Last Tuesday at Negaunee

SINGLES — No. 1, Brady Johnson (N) def. Mason Bancroft 6-1, 6-0; No. 2, Ethan Harris (N) def. Kole Bancroft 6-1, 6-0; No. 3, Jhon Jarvi (N) def. Joey Giroux 6-0, 6-0; No. 4, Max Larson (N) def. Gideon Krook 6-4, 6-1

DOUBLES — No. 1, Easton Guenette-Nolan O’Dovero (N) def. Cayden Luoma-Grady Gauthier 6-2, 6-3; No. 2, Carson Lajimodiere-Quinn Walters (N) def. Levi Nicholls-Dax Kakkuri 6-0, 6-2; No. 3, Eli Cody-Hank Tincknell (N) def. Aaron Hudson-Ethan DeMarois 6-2, 6-0; No. 4, Marshall Knapp-Michael Enright (N) def. Darius Willis-Davis Hyatt 6-0, 6-0

Story contents based on emails received from MSHS head coach Karl Thomsen and NHS head coach Kyle Saari. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.