Escanaba senior Connor Howes returns a ball against West Iron County on April 22, 2025 at Abrahamson Courts in Escanaba. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — A number of close matches kept things interesting here Tuesday afternoon as Escanaba boys tennis took down West Iron County 7-1.

One of the best matches of the day took place at No. 4 singles as sophomore Jacob Prey defeated freshman Casey Clisch 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. The last set went back and forth with both players making big plays.

“It was my first varsity match,” Prey said. “The first match went okay, although I could have done better. There is a lot of practice to do and the conditions were tough but you can’t plan for the weather. I just made adjustments and did the best I could.”

Prey battled against the wind and took three of the last four games during the final set.

“Jacob is only a sophomore who is getting his first varsity action,” Eskymos coach Tom Penegor said. “He made lots of nice plays and with it being the last match going everyone is watching and that can add pressure on a young player but he did a great job.”

Connor Howes had a good day at No. 2 singles after winning the first set with a tie-breaker, came back and took the second set 6-2.

“The first game back, my confidence was a little down during the first set,” Howes said. “I came through in the second set to pull it off which got my confidence going in the right direction.”

At No. 1 doubles, Andrew Lord and Alex Morgan defeated Elijah Oberlin and Jackson Strom 7-5, 7-6. The second match went back and forth with both sides making some tight plays to keep games alive.

“We had some tight matches today,” Penegor said. “With the way the weather turned and we had a small delay the kids did a good job of making adjustments and I feel we competed well across the board, even in the match we lost. It went three sets so we did very well today.”

At No. 4 singles, Brandon Gardner and Logan Stephens defeated Eric Casari and Jayden McWethy 6-1, 6-0. Gardner played alongside sophomore Logan Stephens, who made some nice plays.

“It felt good to get back out there,” Gardner said. “We got through the small delay and made some good plays. The stroke game was really good today and we got through it pretty good.”

The Eskymos return to action Friday when they host Ishpeming-Westwood.

Singles

No. 1 Birmingham, WIC, def. Chaillier, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0; No. 2 Howes, E, def. Brunswick, 7-6 (2), 6-2; No. 3 Brazeau, E, def. White, 6-0, 7-5; No. 4 Prey, E, def. Clisch 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Doubles

No. 1 Lord-Morgan, E, def. Oberlin-J. Strom 7-5, 7-6 (2); No. 2 Prey-Fulsher, E def. Swenski/Dobson-Donati, 6-0, 6-4; No. 3 Garcia-Fletcher, E, def. E. Strom-Perlongo, 6-2, 6-1; No. 4 Gardner-Stephens, E, def. Casari-McWethy, 6-1, 6-0.