By Koppany Jordan
Elm Staff Writer
Last Saturday, on one of the most beautiful days of the year to date, Flock Out 2013 took place. Shoremen’s Tennis team versus the Muhlenberg Mules. With senior Andrew Pearson leading the Shoremen, he secured victory, won his senior day and gave Washington College a 5-4 win over Muhlenberg College.
Having lost their last three matches since smiting the Green Terror at home, Washington College knew that they had to persevere against Muhlenberg. For the seniors, the match was all about honor. This was their territory to defend and the culmination of their four years at WC. Muhlenberg College was a tough team in the conference and the match seemed it could go either way. Despite one doubles loss, the Shoremen rallied to match the Mules. By the end of doubles the score lingered at 1-2.
However, only five wins are needed to secure a match and there was still much time to make a comeback. Junior Joel Novick and senior Andrew Pearson were the lone doubles winners, the team knew what it had to do in order to secure victory. They had kept the doubles matches close, and if the singles matches went well, they could find a way to get a big win on Senior Day.
Opening with singles, the Shoremen lost another match and they soon fell down 1-3. However, they bounced back bringing the score to 2-3. However, with sophomore Boaté’s retirement from the game due to injury, the score became 2-4. This point seems to have galvanized the Shoremen and the score was narrowed by Ryan Holtschneider to 3-4. Finally with junior Joel Novick’s win over Muhlenberg’s Eric Chavis, 6-3 6-1 respectively, the match came down to senior Andrew Pearson, an economics major and a senior playing for a win on perhaps his most important day. Starting strong, he quickly beat Muhlenberg’s Dylan Ander in the first set 6-2.
However, during the second set the pressure mounted and the set became a close one. Pearson refused to give up and fought hard to stay on top. Finally with the stroke of his racket, he finished the set 7-5, winning his match and securing the men’s tennis team another victory. Members of the tennis team ran out and dumped water on him and his parents went wild in the stands.
Pearson improved his careers singles record to 8-8 and his doubles to 9-7 at the match. Following the match, Andrew Pearson said, “I felt like I played a great game. Though it got tight in the middle, my hard work paid off. I trusted myself and this match is something I will never forget.” The Shoremen move on to play Dickinson College on Saturday at home at 1 p.m.