By Hillary Kane
Elm Staff Writer
The Washington College men’s tennis team faced 13th ranked Johns Hopkins University this past weekend during their last competition in regular season play. The match honored seniors Adam Cranford and Kristian Wilson for their commitment to WC tennis.
The day started off strong as doubles team Cranford and junior Kevin Papen won 8-0 against the region’s top-ranked opponents, giving the Shoremen a 1-0 lead. Hopkins came back at No.2 doubles, beating Kristian Wilson and freshman Marc Cywinski 8-2. At No. 3 doubles, Hopkins was able to pull ahead to a 2-1 lead, besting juniors Aaron Ellison and John Menzione in a close match ending at 9-7.
In singles competition, Hopkins secured the win, defeating the Shoremen in 5 out of 6 matches. WC’s second point came from a win by Cranford at No.1, as he took on Andrew Wang, the favored competitor ranked 7th in the region in singles. The match was an exciting upset ending in a 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 victory.
Cranford, who was named Centennial Conference Player of the Week for men’s tennis is pleased with the results of the match on Saturday saying, “Senior day couldn’t have gone any better. The team really fought hard against a really good and talented team. Kevin and I had a great win in doubles and I was able to fight my way back in singles and win, so it was a great way to go out on my last match at WC. I’ve had a pretty good career here, and it certainly has been fun so I’m definitely sad that it is coming to an end.”
Senior Kristian Wilson comments on his last in-season match and tennis career at WC. He says, “I felt good going into the match. Marc and myself were right there in every game but it was the big points we couldn’t win to get an edge up on our opponents. My tennis career had its ups and downs. I am going to miss it, but it’s time for the next chapter of my life.”
Unfortunately the Shoremen lost to Haverford 5-3 in the first round of the Centennial Conference Tournament Wednesday. The Fords took an early 2-1 lead after doubles play. WC tallied a win at No. 1 doubles when Cranford and Papen defeated their opponents 8-3. The Fords took No. 2 defeating Ellison and Menzione 8-3 as well as snagging an 8-1 win at No. 3 over Cywinski and freshman Nicolas Campisi.
In singles, the Fords got wins at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6, but Papen grabbed a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 2. Cranford was able to make a comeback 3-6, 6-3, 10-2 win over the region’s 14th ranked singles player at No. 1.
They Shoremen have an overall record of 9-8 and a conference record of 5-4.
April 24, 2011
Volume LXXXI Issue 24