Tennis fights hard in two-day tournament
David WickerJunior Alex Schubert reacts after making contact with the tennis ball during Friday’s match in Milledgeville against Young Harris College.
Friday featured one round of singles play and two rounds of doubles. Four Bobcats played in the singles round, but senior Tyler Franks was the only winner. Though he struggled with his middle set and lost, Franks finished the day with a 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 triumph over Young Harris College player Martin Harach.
“Playing Friday was really exciting and a new challenge,” Franks said. “It showed me how well I can play. Young Harris had some really talented guys, and I’m glad they came.”
Senior Johan Wadstein won his first singles match 7-6 against Lander University player Vincent Verpeaux, but wasn’t able to pull through and lost the second and third matches 6-2 each.
“That first set I played pretty well,” Wadstein said. “But in the second set I let the heat get to me and I started to cramp.”
Wadstein said being home in Sweden for the summer threw him off his normal routine. He plans on getting used to the heat again, eating better and improving his overall shape.
Junior Alex Schubert and senior Wictor Andersson were double partners Friday night. The two battled against Young Harris players Martin Harach and Tim Gibaud and emerged with an 8-6 win.
“We’re good buddies on the court and we (complement) each other really well,” Andersson said. “I look forward to playing more with him.”
Lander University won the tournament on Friday, celebrating four wins in singles and another four wins in doubles play.
The Bobcats returned on Saturday with a more focused effort, especially Wadstein, who defeated the No. 1 player for Young Harris, Joan Valls, with a pair of wins, each 6-1.
Meanwhile, Andersson was looking to continue his win streak. He lost the first set 5-7, but returned for the second and third sets with a pair of wins, 6-1 and 6-2, respectively.
“I had trouble finding my rhythm on Saturday,” Andersson said. “But when I found it, I was able to pull through with the wins.”
Schubert lost his singles match against Lander player Adam Johnson, falling 6-3 in the first set, winning the second, and facing defeat in the third with a score of 6-2.
Wadstein and Franks meshed well together in a doubles match, winning all three sets. They attribute their victory to being able to work well together on the court.
“Doubles is about strong tactics and getting to know each other,” Wadstein said. “It’s about winning those few points that decide the match. And to do that you have to know where your partner is moving and talking with each other. I haven’t played with Tyler in a while, but it was a lot of fun and we worked well together. He’ll probably be my partner for the rest of the season.”
“The fall season is all about building towards the spring season,” tennis coach Steve Barsby said. “We’re seeing what everyone has in the region so we can be ready. And in the spring, we do what we always do, compete and bring the best we have.”
Men’s tennis will continue its season this weekend, competing in the ITA Regional’s starting Friday, Sept. 21.
“This weekend is what we’ve been working toward for the past three weeks,” Franks said. “It’s good to see how our hard work has been paying off.”
David WickerSenior Tyler Franks slams the ball in his match against Young Harris last Friday. Franks was the only Bobcat to walk away with a victory in singles play. All three sets of the match were won by him. The team looks forward to ITA Regionals this weekend.
Posted by Powell Cobb
on Sep 20 2012. Filed under Sports.
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