Wednesday, 05/15/2013

Linfield’s 2013 men’s tennis season was characterized by individual development, personal desire and a willingness to serve others.

“This team played hard, developed as players and showed a great desire to contest and battle every match,” said Wildcats coach Carl Swanson.

Zachery Lyons, the Wildcats’ senior captain, led the team with eight victories in 13 dual matches, including four wins at No. 1 doubles.

“Zach was a great captain this season and a leader and throughout his career,” said Swanson. “He was a freshman on our 2010 team that finished second in the Northwest Conference and he earned all-conference honors in 2012.”

The most balanced singles and doubles player this year was Lukas Kleinman, who prevailed in four singles matches and four doubles matches to equal Lyons’ eight combined wins.

Sophomore Micah Roos and freshman Tim Hawkins performed admirably throughout the spring, forming a solid No. 2 doubles team. The two young Wildcats paired for four wins.

Picking up valuable varsity experience were Kadin Hashimoto, Joel Trousdale, Ben Brewer, Alex Mangan, Robert Beezer and Nick Konen. Each player improved his competitive skills, noted Swanson.

Among the season highlights was a solid showing on the road at George Fox. In front of a big crowd, Linfield took a 2-1 lead on a team that was among the NWC’s best. Lyons turned in perhaps the best individual effort of the season, winning both his No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles matches in the season finale at Cal Tech.
Off the court, the Wildcats were active in the community. Their outreach included practicing with the local Special Olympics volleyball team, playing at recess with the kids at Sue Buel Elementary School, setting up a Pan Am event at Evergreen Aviation, raising funds for a Linfield student-athlete suffering from brain cancer, and staging a tennis clinic for the McMinnville High School boys tennis team.
Though the Wildcats went without a win, losing all 18 contests, the future appears bright.
With no one set to graduate until at least 2015, the young cast players is prepared to do the hard work that it takes to win tough matches, said Swanson. "They will become the bedrock of the 2014 team as it welcomes new additions to the program. We anticipate bouncing back and competing for the NWC championship in the coming seasons."