Tiger tennis team opens season with win at Drury; sets sights on third national title
It has been 31 years since the Cowley College men's tennis team last won a national title. However, after finishing as the national runner-up a season ago, the Tigers believe they have assembled a squad capable of bringing home the third national championship in the history of the program. Cowley got off to a strong start to the spring season by defeating NCAA Division II Drury University 6-1 Sunday in Springfield, MO.
On Sunday, Cowley got wins from all three doubles teams and went 5-1 in singles play.
"It was a tough match, the 6-1 score does not really tell how good our guys had to play to win," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said. "I am pleased with the way the guys competed, and we are just looking forward to getting back to practice and keep getting better and better."
Ranked second in the nation entering the 2022 season, Cowley returns seven players from a season ago to go along with talented All-American transfer Harry Collins.
"These guys will bring maturity and leadership to the team," Raga said.
Cowley has the top-two ranked singles players in NJCAA Division I in sophomore Takeshi Taco and freshman Boruch Skierkier. Taco is the defending national champion at No. 2 singles and was the national champion at No. 1 doubles with partner Jack Clements.
While, Skierkier had a stellar fall season as he was the runner-up at the NJCAA regional and national championship in singles.
Also returning along with Takeshi Taco is fellow sophomore Andoni Garmendia, who is the defending national champion at No. 5 singles.
"Takeshi and Andoni have so much confidence," Raga said. "Their confidence spreads to others on the team."
Other returners from last season are Aymeric Bruno, Arthur Hernandes, Taiyo Hirano, Carlos Castillo, and Joe Blake. Bruno is ranked 16th nationally in singles and along with Hirano forms the No. 5-ranked doubles team.
Freshmen on the team are Santiago Bramajo, Victor Peroo, Aditya Roy Chowdhury, Leandro Zgraggen, and Gaston Erhardt, who enters the season ranked 13th nationally in singles. Fellow freshman Hanamichi Carvajal was a late addition to the team.
"Hanamichi had an incredible junior tennis career and we expect him to play near the top of the lineup," Raga said. "We feel good about the guys we brought in as most of them have already made an immediate impact. We have an extremely talented and deep squad where practices will be like taking part in a match."
Cowley will play a challenging schedule to prepare them for the national tournament as they will face Wichita State University and four NCAA Division II schools among its opponents.
"I think this team is even better than last year's team that finished as the national runner-up," Raga said. "The goal is to win the national championship, but we will take it week-by-week and one match at a time. If we practice as hard as we can, and put the work in, it should pay off."
Results vs. Drury:
DOUBLES
*No. 1 - Boruch Skierkier & Gaston Erhardt (CC) defeated L. Dobelmann & M. Wilken (DU) 6-4.
*No. 2 - Takeshi Taco & Andoni Garmendia (CC) defeated L. Stierling & I. Ogilvy (DU) 6-3.
*No. 3 - Aymeric Bruno & Carlos Castillo (CC) defeated J. De Buck & A. Sarlet (DU) 7-5.
SINGLES
*No. 1 - Boruch Skierkier (CC) lost to M. Wilken (DU) 4-6, 3-6.
*No. 2 - Gaston Erhardt (CC) defeated L. Stierling (DU) 6-2, 6-4.
*No. 3 - Harry Collins (CC) defeated L. Dobelmann (DU) 7-6(5), 6-2.
*No. 4 - Hanamichi Carvajal (CC) defeated A. Sarlet (DU) 6-4, 6-1.
*No. 5 - Andoni Garmendia (CC) defeated J. De Buck (DU) 6-2, 7-5.
*No. 6 - Aymeric Bruno (CC) defeated I. Ogilvy (DU) 7-6(9), 6-7(4), 10-6.