Saturday, 04/14/2012

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men’s tennis team concluded its regular season with a 7-2 victory over Coker College Saturday at the WU Tennis Complex. The South Atlantic Conference regular season champions are 16-6 overall, while the Conference Carolina member Cobras fall to 7-12 overall.

The Bulldogs found themselves in a familiar position after doubles, as the Cobras took a 2-1 lead. Coker took an 8-2 decision at the number three doubles flight. Wingate senior Flavio Rathsam (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and freshman Neal Towlson (Warwick, Bermuda) tied the match at 1-1 with an 8-3 number one doubles triumph over Coker sophomores Leonardo Lima (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Manel Estruga (Barcelona, Spain).

Coker senior Billy Simpson (Hartsville, S.C.) and sophomore Guillermo Aylon (Zaragoza, Spain) gave the visitors a 2-1 edge with a 9-7 number two doubles victory over Wingate seniors Drew Owen (Kitchener, Ontario) and Matt Lichtenstein (Darnestown, Md.). The Bulldogs rallied with a clean sweep of the singles matches.

Owen tied the match with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Aylon on court number two. Rathsam gave the hosts the lead for good with a 6-3, 7-5 decision over countryman Lima at the number one singles flight. Rathsam enters the Food Lion SAC tournament with a 57-16 career singles record.

Wingate freshman Diego Martinez (Queretaro, Mexico) rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Estruga at the number three singles flight. Towlson, sophomore Ryan Forbes (Charlotte, N.C.) and freshman Josh Eardley (Newcastle, Staffordshire, England) lost only 10 total games to complete the singles sweep at flights four through six.

The Bulldogs enter the 2012 Food Lion SAC tournament as the number one seed. Wingate will face the four-five quarter-final match winner Friday afternoon at the Rock Hill Tennis Center. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. Coker concludes the 2012 regular season tomorrow, venturing to Belmont Abbey for a 1:30 p.m. match.

Wingate 7, Coker 2
Apr 14, 2012 at Wingate, N.C. (WU Tennis Complex)

Singles competition

1. Flavio Rathsam (WU) def. Leonardo Lima (COKER) 6-3, 7-5
2. Drew Owen (WU) def. Guillermo Aylon (COKER) 6-4, 6-2
3. Diego Martinez (WU) def. Manel Estruga (COKER) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Neal Towlson (WU) def. James Corfield (COKER) 6-1, 6-2
5. Ryan Forbes (WU) def. Ricardo Perez (COKER) 6-0, 6-1
6. Josh Eardley (WU) def. Billy Simpson (COKER) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Rathsam/Towlson (WU) def. Lima/Estruga (COKER) 8-3
2. Aylon/Simpson (COKER) def. Owen/Matt Lichtenstein (WU) 9-7
3. Corfield/Perez (COKER) def. Martinez/Forbes (WU) 8-2

Match notes

Wingate 16-6 overall; regional ranking #7
Coker 7-12 overall