Wykons finish runner-up in Great Northern

By Jerry DeRoche
IRON RIVER — The West Iron County girls tennis team entered the stretch run of the 2021 season last week and came away with a runner-up finish in the Great Northern Conference meet held Sept. 22 in Marquette.
Escanaba won the team title with 26 points. The Wykons were next with 13, followed by Menominee (12), Gladstone (11), Marquette and Kingsford (9 each) and Munising (0).
Sophomore Brynlee Nodurft and freshman Katelyn Smith led the way for West Iron with championships in the No. 3 and No. 4 singles flights, respectively. The Wykons received third-place finishes from No. 1 singles Kali Applin and No. 2 singles Aurora Dahl.
No. 1 doubles Madison Berutti and Aubrey Bice scored the other point for West Iron with a fourth-place result.
“I was happy with the second-place finish,” WIC coach Joe Serbentas said. “We need to shore up some of our ‘doubles troubles’ but all the girls fought hard.”
Nodurft drew a bye into the second round before defeating Menominee 6-0, 6-4 and then rolling to the title with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Escanaba.
Note: no names from West Iron’s opposition were reported.
“Brynlee has been improving mentally on the court and it really showed at the tournament,” Serbentas said.
Smith played three matches on her way to the title and recorded straight-set victories in all three. She began her day by routing Kingsford 6-2, 6-1, then fighting off Marquette 6-4, 6-4. In the championship match, Smith eased past Escanaba 6-1, 6-0.
“Very happy with Kaitlyn’s victory as she lost to the Esky girl twice earlier this year,” Serbentas said. “She played with a lot of confidence this time around and rolled through her finals match quickly (in 40 minutes).”
Applin and Dahl contributed two points each to West Iron’s final totals. Applin overwhelmed Kingsford 6-0, 6-1, 

but then dropped a three setter to Gladstone 2-6, 6-0, 6-1. She then defeated Marquette 6-2, 6-3 to win the third-place match.
Dahl began with a bye, but lost to Menominee 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. She took down Gladstone 6-1, 6-2 to take third.
“I was also pleased with Kali and Aurora picking up victories in the third-place matches,” Serbentas stated.
Berutti-Bice beat Marquette 6-3, 6-1 to advance into the second round but then fell to Menominee 6-2, 6-3. The duo lost to Gladstone 6-4, 6-4 in the third-place match.
“Aubrey and Madison avenged an early-season loss to Marquette and defeated them convincingly to advance into the points round,” Serbentas added.
The Wykons lost in the first round in the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 doubles flights. Lillie Schmutzler and Callista Bortolameolli dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision to Kingsford at two doubles, Seanna Stine and Autumn Smith fell to Kingsford 6-2, 6-4 at three doubles and Bailey Hoffart and Alex Hanson lost to Marquette 6-0, 6-1 at four doubles.
Last week’s other scheduled match, a dual at Norway on Sept. 20, was cancelled because of rain.
The Wykons close out their season at the Division 2 U.P. Championships Wednesday at Westwood. West Iron is the defending D2 champion.