Two singles teams and one doubles team capture national championships
The Cowley College men's tennis team made history with its highest-ever finish at the Division I National Tennis Tournament in Plano, TX. Led by national champions in three spots, the Tigers finished as the national runner-up.
The Tigers previous best finish at the Division I National Tournament was fourth place. Cowley previously won two national championships in 1989 and 1991 when they competed at the Division II level.
With Takeshi Taco (No. 2 singles), Andoni Garmendia (No. 5 singles), and the No. 1 doubles team of Jack Clements and Takeshi Taco each capturing individual national championships, Cowley finished second to only Tyler Junior College. The Apaches, winners of three straight national championships, finished nine points better (48-39) than the Tigers.
Cowley head coach Manuel Raga was extremely proud of the accomplishment of this year's team.
"We worked so hard this season and hard work pays off," Raga said. "We knew we had to have a great day five and we did. We won national championships in three spots, and also secured the second place finish the last day of the tournament which made it even more exciting and special."
Cowley finished two points better than third place Seward County and nearly had another national champion as Jack Clements (No. 1 singles) finished as the national runner-up.
Cowley results:
SINGLES
*No. 1 – Jack Clements (CC) defeated Austreberto Carlon (Mesa) 6-2, 6-3; Clements (Cowley) defeated Chris Lawrence (East Central) 6-3, 6-2; Clements (Cowley) defeated Rafal Bednarczuk (Collin) 6-4,6-3; Clements (Cowley) lost to Jaycer Lyeons (Tyler) 2-6,6-2,2-6 in the national championship match.
*No. 2 – Takeshi Taco (CC) defeated Pablo Lopez Real (Harford) 6-4, 6-0; Taco (Cowley) defeated Killian Savary (Seward) 6-1, 6-1; Taco (Cowley) defeated Dario Kmet (Eastern Florida) 6-3,6-2.
*No. 3 – Aymeric Bruno (CC) lost to Eduardo Morais (Barton) 3-6, 6-7(4); Taco (Cowley) defeated Cash Hanzlik (Tyler) 3-6,6-3,7-5 in the national championship match.
*No. 4 – Alejandro Orihuela (CC) defeated Clay Fudge (Mississippi Gulf Coast) 6-1, 6-4; Orihuela (Cowley) defeated Muntingh Hamman (Jacksonville) 6-1, 6-4; Orihuela (Cowley) lost to Juan Gonzalez (Seward) 6-7(4),6-2,1-6.
*No. 5 – Andoni Garmendia (CC) defeated Russell Moorman (Itawamba) 6-0, 6-0; Garmendia (Cowley) defeated Tiago Marquez (ABAC) 6-7(4),6-2,6-0; Garmendia (Cowley) defeated Jeff Guerrero (Tyler) 6-4,6-2; Garmendia (Cowley) defeated Martins Abamu (Seward) 7-6(5),6-0 in the national championship match.
*No. 6 – Javier Pla (CC) defeated Leonel Caspe (Barton) 6-2, 6-0; Pla (Cowley) defeated Jaewoo Choi (Eastern Florida) 5-7,6-0,7-5; lost to Enzo Frequelin (Seward) 5-7,3-6.
DOUBLES
*No. 1 – Clements & Taco (Cowley) defeated Smith & Tanjuatco (Marion Military) 6-0,6-2; Clements & Taco (Cowley) defeated Zobel & Bednarczuk (Collin) 6-3, 6-2; Clements & Taco (Cowley) defeated Centeno & Fisicaro (Seward) 6-3,6-1; Clements & Taco (Cowley) defeated Lyeons & Kilani (Tyler) 6-3,2-6,6-4 in the national championship match.
*No. 2 – Orihuela & Bruno (Cowley) lost to Kalaba & Kaoma (Barton) 6-4,7-5.
*No. 3 – Castillo & Garmendia (Cowley) defeated Rasberry & Clyde (Copiah) 6-0,6-0; Castillo & Garmendia (Cowley) defeated Stuart & Outor (ABAC) 6-2,6-1; Garmendia & Castillo (Cowley) lost to Reche & Viera (Eastern Florida) 1-6,3-6.