Tiger tennis team captures Region VI title

The No. 1-ranked Cowley College men's tennis team added to its long list of accomplishments by capturing the Region VI title played Saturday and Sunday in Maize, KS. The Tigers (16 points) ran away with the championship, scoring double the points of second place Seward County (eight points).

Other teams at the Region VI Championship were Barton County (5.5 points) and Pratt (0 points).

The Tigers got individual region titles from their No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams, while also getting singles titles from Takeshi Taco, Boruch Skierkier, Gaston Erhardt, Harry Collins, and Andoni Garmendia.

"I was so proud of our effort and toughness at the region tournament," Cowley head coach Manny Raga said. "These guys are special, they love winning, hate losing, and work very hard to stay at the top."

Indicative of the fight this team has shown was Garmendia battling through extreme leg cramps to not only finish his match at No. 6 singles, but also to win in three sets. While, Taco avenged his lone defeat of the season by taking down Seward's Luciano Fisicaro 6-0, 6-2 in the finals of No. 1 singles.

Cowley will now prepare to compete at the NJCAA Division I National Championship May 16-20 in Tyler, Texas.

"We still have a lot more to accomplish but winning the Region VI Championship feels great," Raga said. "We will take one day off, and then back to practice on Tuesday."

Results:

DOUBLES 

*No. 1 - Aymeric Bruno & Taiyo Hirano (CC) lost Fisicaro & Krolo (Seward) 4-6, 6-4, 4-6. 

*No. 2 - Boruch Skierkier & Gaston Erhardt (CC) defeated Kaoma & Kalaba (Barton) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. 

*No. 3 - Andoni Garmendia & Takeshi Taco (CC) defeated 6-0, 7-6(9). 

SINGLES 

*No. 1 - Takeshi Taco (CC) defeated Fisicaro (Seward) 6-0, 6-2.

*No. 2 - Boruch Skierkier (CC) defeated Quaynor (Seward) 7-6(5), 6-2.

*No. 3 - Hanamichi Carvajal (CC) lost to Savary (Seward) 1-6, 6-4, 3-6.

*No. 4 - Gaston Erhardt (CC) defeated Kalaba (Barton) 6-2, 7-5.

*No. 5 - Harry Collins (CC) defeated Krolo (Seward) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

*No. 6 - Andoni Garmendia (CC) defeated Abamu (Seward) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.