So close! Tiger tennis team repeats as national runner-up

With sophomores Takeshi Taco and Andoni Garmendia repeating as national champions at No. 1 and No. 6 singles, the Cowley College men's tennis team ended another stellar season by finishing as the national runner-up for a second straight year at the NJCAA Division I National Championships held in Tyler, TX.

Taco displayed the heart of a champion while defeating Gaston Cantero of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in a three plus hour marathon championship match.

While, Garmendia completed another dominant tournament run by defeating Seward's Martins Abamu 7-6, 6-3 to repeat as national champion at No. 6 singles.

With No. 3 and No. 4 singles players Hanamichi Carvajal and Gaston Erhardt dropping their national title matches, the Tigers needed some help and a win from Taco and Garmendia at No. 3 doubles. However, following Garmendia's grueling singles win he needed medical attention and was unable to continue playing in the double's championship. 

With the doubles' team unable to play, the Tigers had to forfeit their match vs. Tyler Junior College. Cowley would finish two points behind national champion Seward County (45-43), while finishing just ahead of defending national champion Tyler Junior College (42 points). Barton Community College showed the strength of the Tigers' Region as three schools from the Jayhawk Conference finished in the top-four at nationals. Collin College (TX), coached by former Cowley head coach Charity Andrews, placed fifth out of the 25-team tournament with 27 points.

"We tried our best this week and are proud of the boys' effort," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said. "We had a couple matches not go our way and at the national championship you have to be almost perfect. It was still a historic season and we will be back again next year."

As for Taco and Garmendia defending their singles titles and having storied careers at Cowley come to a difficult end, Raga had this to say.

"Takeshi is the best player in Cowley history and Andoni is probably the toughest guy in Cowley history," Raga said. "I am so proud of those two guys, ever since day one at Cowley all they wanted to do was win."

Taco, who teamed with Garmendia to win a doubles title as freshmen, was not able to celebrate his individual accomplishments as he was still feeling the effects of having the Tigers come up just short of its first national championship since 1991.

"The main goal for me was to win a national championship as a team," Taco said. "I am disappointed with the ending. However, being at Cowley has been a dream come true. I thank everyone at Cowley because I would not be able to win the championships without them."

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; lost to Luciano Fisciaro/Karlo Krolo (Seward) 5-7, 5-7 in the semifinals.

*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; lost to Luke Quaynor/Kylian Savary (Seward) 2-6, 6-7 in the semifinals.

*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; defeated Gianni Lopez/Edward Shteyn (Collin) 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals; had to forfeit its match in the finals.

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; defeated Lucas Gonzalez (E. Florida State) 6-2. 6-3 in the semifinals; defeated Gaston Cantero (ABAC) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in the championship.

*No. 2 – Boruch Skierkier (CC) defeated Carlos Gutierrez (NMMI) 6-0, 6-0; defeated Luis Ching (Collin) 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals; lost to Luke Quaynor (Seward) 3-6, 6-2, 5-7 in the semifinals.

*No. 3 – Hanamichi Carvajal (CC) defeated Ryan Christensen (Jacksonville) 6-1, 6-1; defeated Eduardo Morais (Barton) 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals; defeated Ignacio Orgaz (ABAC) 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals; lost to Kylian Savary (Seward) 2-6, 6-4, 1-6 in the championship.

*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; defeated Barnabas Kalaba (Barton) 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals; lost to Emilio Vila (Tyler) 1-6, 5-7 in the championship.

*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; lost to Karlo Krolo (Seward) 4-6, 4-6 in the semifinals.

*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; defeated Corentin Venot (E. Florida State) 6-1, 6-4 in the semifinals; defeated Martins Abamu (Seward) 7-6, 6-3 in the championship.