By Jensyn Hartzell
Sports Editor
The Washington College women’s tennis team concluded their fall season on Sept. 26 after travelling to Fredericksburg Va. for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southeast Regionals at Mary Washington University.
The Shorewomen competed in both singles and doubles matches against several other colleges and universities based out of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.
In the Championship Flight for singles, junior Irene Meng took her opening round at 6–2 and 7–5 against Averett University as sophomore Maria Cristina Diaz-Nazario also won her first round against Stevenson University, both games at 6–0.
Meng and Diaz-Nazario were both unable to make it past Round 32; Meng falling to Johns Hopkins University and Diaz-Nazario to Shenandoah University.
Junior Katie Ruppert went undefeated in the B8 Flight, where she bested Stevenson University in her semi-final match at 8–2 and won the championship match with the same score against Bridgewater College.
Meng and Diaz-Nazario represented the Shorewomen in the doubles matches in the B1 Flight. Together they won their first round at 8–7 against Sweet Briar College, but were beat in the second round.
The WC men’s tennis team also travelled to compete in the ITA Southeast Regionals in Va. on Oct. 2 and 3.
During the singles competition, sophomore Ryohei Kawai participated in the B5 Flight where he dominated until the final match. Kawai was bested by Washington and Lee University at 6–1 and 6–2.
Junior Christian Gruyon lost in the quarterfinals of the B8 Flight against Bridgewater at 6–2, 6–7, and 8–10, but continued competing in the consolation final match. He overcame St. Mary’s College of Maryland in the semifinals at 6–2 and 6–4 and continued his victories in the final against Lebanon Valley University at 4–6, 6–4, and 10–3.
In the Championship Flight, junior Karl Hoegstedt dominated Christopher Newport University at 6–1 and 7–5, Swarthmore College at 6–1, 2–6, and 6–3, and Washington and Lee University at 6–0 and 6–1. During the quarterfinals, Hoegstedt lost to Mary Washington University at 3–6 and 2–6.
Although he lost, Hoedstedt made a WC Athletics historical landmark, being the first Shoreman to make it this far in the Championship Flight in almost 20 years, according to the WC Athletics website.
In the doubles league, Hoegstedt and Kawai took on the Championship Flight, making it to round 65 where they were beaten by Johns Hopkins University at 8–5. In the B2 Flight, Gruyon and senior Andrew Smith were paired together, advancing all the way to the semifinal round. They were bested by Grove City College also at 8–5.