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Well, it's weird to start
the season with the NCAA Regional Championships, but that's the
sport of tennis in college. Seven men traveled to national power
Emory University and played admirably.
Top player junior Russell
Turley of Birmingham, AL was serving 3-5, 40-15 in the third set,
when he fell victim to cramps for the third time. He was forced
to retire and default in the consolation to teammate Chris Rolen.
Freshman Tim Shoptaugh of Baton rouge, LA lost to All American doubles
player Chris Fletcher of Methodist in his first collegiate match.
He would play better but fall to eventual finalist Mike Robertson
of Piedmont.
Junior Brock Newman of
Florence, MS was added to the travel team and had the unfortunate
task of playing #4 seed and doubles All-American Keith Criscoe of
Methodist. Brock played well in his losing effort, and almost won
his consolation match against Centre's Bennett Clark 9-7.
Chris Rolen of Baton
Rouge, LA playing in his first collegiate match, came up short against
Porter Glover of MC, defeated Russell Turley by default due to injury,
and almost defeated Oglethorpe's John Esterline. Chris was hampered
by a pulled groin muscle he acquired against Glover in the prior
round.
Sophomore Wes Hill of
Columbus, MS lost to Adam Bohnert of Rhodes and Centre's #2 Lon
Hays in the consolation. Sophomore Michael Puckett lost the David
Pointer of Sewanee and Daniel Rigdon of MC in the consolation.
Freshman Trevor Harris
of Austin, TX playing in his first collegiate match lost to Henry
Litchfield of Sewanee and lost to Matt Nash of Piedmont in the consolation.
In doubles we
had the unfortuante task of playing Emory in 2 of the 3 matches.
Turley and Shoptaugh, playing in their first match together, lost
the first round to Emory duo of Greg Sturman, singles consolation
champ, and his partner Alex Siegel 8-3. They defeated Clarke/Freeman
of Centre 8-3, and then lost to Hardy/Sumter 8-4.
Rolen and Puckett,
also playing in their first collegiate match together, lost to Emory
duo Snyder/Bentz 8-3 and then almost defeated Centre's Vasupuram/Arnold
9-7. Hill and Harris, also playing in their first collegiate match
lost to Layton/Siegel of Methodist 8-3, and then after a bye lost
to Vasuparam/Arnold 8-5.
There were lots
of matches for our taking. With two weeks less practicing than our
peers and no matches prior we did very well. Much better than last
year we did. In two weeks we will get some more practice with the
Millsaps Open Championships.
Nationally ranked
NAIA Spring Hill, and nationally ranked JUCOs Gulf Coast, Itawamba,
Meridian, along with Belhaven, Pearl River CC, Sourthern Arkansas
Univ., Co/Lin CC will make for good matches. We'll hope to see our
fans their.
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