May
14, 2010
Cowley finishes in sixth place at national tournament
Recording its highest national finish since 2004, the Cowley College
men’s tennis team placed sixth at the NJCAA Men’s National
Tennis Championship in Plano, Texas.
Heading into today’s final round of competition, Laredo continued
to hold a one-point lead (39-38) over Collin County Community College
for first place, while Tyler Junior College was in third place with 37
points. Vincennes University is fourth with 36 points and Seminole State
finished two points ahead of the Tigers (28-26) for fifth place.
“I was very proud of the way our guys fought all week,” Cowley
head coach Josh Cobble said. “It took a great effort from everybody.”
Advancing to the title match at No. 3 singles, Cowley sophomore Roger
White had his magical run come to an end with a 1-6, 0-6 loss to Vincennes
University’s Simon Honegger.
“Roger had a great tournament, he just ran out of gas in the finals,” Cobble
said.
White, who came to Cowley from England, had a stellar performance at
the national tournament, as he also teamed with Alex Dickson to advance
to the quarterfinals of No. 3 doubles. By making it to the championship
match at No. 3 singles, White was named a second-team All-American.
Fellow Tigers' Lloyd Bruce-Burgess and Joan Valls came back from an opening
round loss at No. 1 doubles to win the consolation draw. In its final
match, the Tigers’ doubles team dropped its first set against Itawamba
Community College’s Leo Prudencio and Ethan Wilkinson 2-6, before
winning the next two sets 6-2 and 10-8.
Cowley will lose White, Bruce-Burgess, Renato Mendes and Felipe Pimenta
to graduation. Both White and Bruce-Burgess captured Region VI singles
titles as sophomores.
“Those four guys have done a great job the last two years and really
provided great leadership this season,” Cobble said.
The Tigers will hope Valls and Alex Dickson can build off their experience
at the national tournament and serve as leaders on next season’s
team. Dickson, the Region VI champion at No. 6 singles, advanced to the
third round in singles play at the national tourney and teamed with White
to reach the quarterfinals of No. 3 doubles.
Fellow freshman Tom Gibaud also gained valuable experience during the
season and accompanied the team on its trip to nationals.
“Those freshmen will bring experience and leadership to next year’s
team,” Cobble said. “I will be excited to have them back.”
Top-10 team scores: (1) Laredo, 39; (2) Collin, 38; (3) Tyler, 37; (4)
Vincennes, 36; (5) Seminole, 28; (6) Cowley, 26; (7) ABAC, 25; (8tie)
Johnson County, 24; (8tie) Scottsdale, 24; (10) Seward County, 20.
Cowley results:
DOUBLES
- No. 1 - Lloyd Bruce-Burgess/Joan Valls (CC) lost to Raul Garza/Chris
Lawson (Temple) 4-6, 4-6; received a bye to the quarterfinals of the
consolation bracket; won by default over Terrence Gamboa/Marco Reynoso
(Moraine Valley); defeated Brian Munie/Kyle Watson (Lewis & Clark)
6-0, 6-2; defeated
- No. 2 - Renato Mendes/Felipe Pimenta (CC) defeated Trent Jackson/Matt
Kennamer (Spartanburg Methodist) 6-1, 6-1; lost to Stan Rodier/Paulo
Roessle (Tyler) 3-6, 7-6, 4-6.
- No. 3 - Alex Dickson/Roger White (CC) received a bye in the first
round; defeated Joe Garcia/Chris Vlad (Glendale) 6-2, 6-1; lost to
Rafael Bugiga/Antoine Raffaelli (Laredo) 4-6, 4-6 in the quarterfinals.
SINGLES
- No. 1 - Lloyd Bruce-Burgess (CC) received a bye in the first round;
defeated Chad Llewellyn (Marion) 6-2, 6-2; defeated Javier Millan (Scottsdale)
6-2, 6-4; lost to Cledson Carvalho (Laredo) 6-7, 7-6, 1-4 (retired)
in the semifinals.
- No. 2 - Joan Valls (CC) defeated Charles Norman (Glendale) 6-2, 6-2;
defeated Romain Vieillard (ABAC) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1; lost to Danny Heidecker
(Collin) 2-6, 6-4, 4-6.
- No. 3 - Roger White (CC) received a bye in the first round; defeated
Raul Garza (Temple) 6-2, 6-4; defeated Jordan Rozenfeld (Collin) 4-6,
6-2, 6-4; defeated Leury Arias (Laredo) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; lost to Simon
Honegger (Vincennes) 1-6, 0-6 in the championship match.
- No. 4 - Felipe Pimenta (CC) defeated Donnail Myles (Hinds) 6-1, 6-0;
lost to Rodolfo Bustamante (Collin) 6-1, 6-0.
- No. 5 - Renato Mendes (CC) defeated Wesley Raines (Itawamba) 6-2,
6-2; lost to Corey Huggins (Seminole) 1-6, 5-7.
- No. 6 - Alex Dickson (CC) received a bye in the first round; defeated
Daniel Plasencia (Scottsdale) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; lost to Bryan Canavan
(Seminole) 7-6, 5-7, 2-6.
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