The Etownian >> Sports
Jays win three matches, lose two in nonconference play
Thursday March 25 2010
Senior Brok Walker hits the ball during a match. Walker became the first Blue Jay to win 50 career singles matches on March 10.
Junior Brian Osborn has high hopes for the season, wanting to go back to conference playoffs to win, while senior Brok Walker hopes the team can continue to improve throughout the season.
For coach Matt Helsel, watching his team bring the same work ethic, resilience and passion this season will meet all of his hopes. “If we do, whether it be practice or a match, I’ll be at peace with the results of those efforts,” Helsel said.
The Jays’ work ethic and passion were on full display this past Saturday when the team took home another win by beating Juniata College 7-2, winning all doubles matches and four out of six singles.
In this nonconference match, the Blue Jays took an early lead in doubles, beating the Eagles 3-0. Junior Bryan Metz and sophomore Manrique Arrea took on Jarred Silver and Arnab Chakrabarti in flight one. They came out with a 9-7 win, followed by first-years Josh Riehl and Eric Fritzges beating Ross Imbrie and Scott Andrews 8-2. Finally, first-year Michael Anderson and Walker won 8-3 against Tucker Good and Brice Morey.
In singles, Riehl was victorious over Chakrabarti 6-4, 6-2. Walker defeated Good in flight three, winning 6-4, 6-2. Metz won in a tiebreaker against Morey 5-7, 6-0 (10-7) in match four, while in flight five, Fritzges beat Imbrie 6-3, 6-2.
The Blue Jays also defeated Northwestern (Minn.) College 6-3 Friday, March 12 in a nonconference match. Every match was played in pro sets (first to eight games) because of weather and time considerations.
Fritzges took home an 8-3 win over Josh Fread in singles. In match five, Anderson swept Dan Johnson 8-0. Sophomore Matt Freedman also shut out opponent Jay Werness 8-0. During the doubles, Riehl and Fritzges took a 9-8 (7-5) win against Caleb Kauss and Jeremiah Schneck. In flight two, Walker and Metz narrowly defeated Freedman and Keegan Blancke 9-8 (7-3). Anderson and Freedman took down Adam Nehl and Chris Lindstrom in flight three 8-5.
On Wednesday, March 10, the team took home its first season win against Gordon College. The Blue Jays won four singles matches and two out of three doubles.
Riehl won 6-0, 6-1 against Gary Gaudio in singles. During flight two, Walker became the first Blue Jay to win 50 career singles by beating Carl Quinion 6-7(6-8), 6-1, 6-1. Walker stated that though he is proud of his 50-24 career singles, he doesn’t look at stats. It is an honor for him to have reached this achievement, it is more about what he can do for his team.
Metz continued Walker’s lead by beating Eric Musser 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6). In flight four, Fritzges won over Nate Musser 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. In doubles, Riehl and Fritzges took an 8-4 win against Gaudio and Nate Musser. Walker and Metz also took home a victory in doubles, defeating Quinion and Evan Williamson 8-5.
The Blue Jays opened their season by losing to Baldwin-Wallace College Monday, March 8, 8-1. Their only point came from Riehl, who won against Alex Trzeciak 2-6, 7-5, (10-8) in singles. “It was our first match, and the sort of match we needed to improve and to see where we are at in the grand scheme of things,” Helsel said.
Osborn said it was great for a first-year to win the most difficult match. This year, the Blue Jays’ roster holds five first-years in the ten-player team.
So far, the relatively young team isn’t letting inexperience hold them back. This year’s first-years have been the most talented group to play since he started playing.
“Each year brings some new personalities and new chemistry,” Helsel said. His challenge is to get the players going in the same direction.
This afternoon, the men’s tennis team will host Stevenson University in a nonconference matchup at 3:30 p.m.
The Etownian >> Sports