Tiger tennis team rolls into semifinals

Showing the grit and determination of the top-ranked team in the country, the Cowley College men's tennis team won all six singles matches and each of its three doubles matches for a second straight day at the NJCAA Division I National Tennis Championships held in Tyler, TX.

Highlighting Wednesday's competition was the Tigers' final match of the day as Cowley's No. 1 doubles' team of Taiyo Hirano and Aymeric Bruno rallied from a loss of the first set of its quarterfinal match against Collin College to win 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3 as fellow Tiger tennis players and Cowley fans erupted in celebration while advancing all of its players onto Thursday's semifinals.

"This is what we came prepared for, tough matches where we mentally have to fight and never give up," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said. "The support is incredible, it feels like we are playing at Cowley."

The Collin tennis program is coached by former Tiger tennis coach Charity Andrews.

Cowley remains tied with Seward County entering Thursday's semifinal play, while defending national champion Tyler Junior College sits in third place.

Raga was proud of his team's effort on Thursday as outside of the three-set thriller at No. 1 doubles, the remainder of the team won in straight sets.

"If you want to win a national championship you need to have everyone advance to the semis," Raga said. "It was a huge day for us. We will get some rest and be ready to do it again tomorrow."

Results:

DOUBLES

*No. 1 – Taiyo Hirano/Aymeric Bruno (CC) defeated Eden Benitez/Gabriel Torres (Jacksonville) 6-2, 6-1; defeated Luis Ching/Tristan Vigneron (Collin) 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.

*No. 2 – Gaston Erhardt/Boruch Skierkier (CC) defeated Theo Devals-Hamel/Arthur Praud (Iowa Central) 6-0, 6-0; defeated Liam Barry/Ruben Emmerson-Hiini (USC Sumter) 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

*No. 3 – Andoni Garmendia/Takeshi Taco (CC) defeated Tristian Du Plessis/Alex Rainer (Walters State) 6-4, 6-2; defeated Nolen Laderee/Zamani Moyo (Iowa Central) 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

SINGLES

*No. 1 – Takeshi Taco (CC) defeated Mikar Fisher (Tyler JC) 6-0, 6-0; defeated Paul Gayk (Mississippi Gulf Coast) 6-3, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

*No. 2 – Boruch Skierkier (CC) defeated Carlos Gutierrez (NMMI) 6-0, 6-0; defeated Luis Ching (Collin) 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

*No. 3 – Hanamichi Carvajal (CC) defeated Ryan Christensen (Jacksonville) 6-1, 6-1; defeated Eduardo Morais (Barton) 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

*No. 4 – Gaston Erhardt (CC) defeated Anderson DeLaney (Mississippi Gulf Coast) 6-3, 6-2; defeated Djordje Kurcubic (Collin) 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

*No. 5 – Harry Collins (CC) defeated Alexander Hassell (Jacksonville) 6-1, 6-0; defeated Arthur Praud (Iowa Central) 6-1, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

*No. 6 – Andoni Garmendia (CC) defeated Parker Chaney (Meridian) 6-1, 6-0; defeated Soren Younger (Paradise Valley) 6-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.