The men's tennis team participated in the first day of the MIAA Flighted Tournament on Friday. The two-day tournament was forced indoors to Hope College's Dewitt Tennis Center. The modified flighted tournament format includes four teams – Hope, Calvin, Trine, and Alma. The Scots finished doubles with a 2-6 record and singles action at 3-5.
The day began with doubles action with two compass draws. The "A Doubles" draw includes each schools top two doubles teams, while the "B Doubles" draw includes each squads 3 and 4 teams. None of the Scots were able to win their first matches.
Alma's #1 doubles tandem of So. Logan Beard (Ithaca, MI/Ithaca, MI) and Fr. Trent Pontious (Caledonia, MI/Caledonia) advanced to the consolation finals (5th place match) in the "A" draw with a win over Trine. Advancing to the consolation finals in the "B" draw for the Scots is So. Gordon Rumschlag (Romeo, MI/Romeo) and Fr. Justin Meyer (Warren Woods, MI/Warren Woods Tower, they will face off against Trine tomorrow.
In singles action the flights were divided similarly to doubles, with the addition of a "C" and "D" draw for the 5-6 and 7-8 players respectively. Three Scots were victorious in their first matches to advance to the semifinals.
In the "C" draw Sr. Ben Schippers (Traverse City, MI/Traverse City St. Francis) overcame an off day to defeat Trine's Zach Richardson, 6-2, 2-6, 11-9. Schippers will face off against Calvin's Vashon Wright tomorrow morning for a trip to the finals.
A pair of Scots found success in the "D" draw, showcasing the depth that the team has built. First to advance was Fr. Phil Ryskamp (Grosse Ille, MI/Grosse Ille) with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Trine's Trevor Derby. Fr. Travis Long (Boyne City, MI/Boyne City) used staggering consistency to down his Trine's Ryan Richman by the same score.
Action resumes tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. at Calvin College and the neighboring Gainey Athletic Complex in Grand Rapids.
Results and Upcoming Matches
"A" Singles (1-2) QF: Preston Phillips (Calvin) def. Josh Gove (Alma) 6-4, 7-5 QF: Bobby Cawood (Hope) def. Logan Beard (Alma) 6-0, 6-0 CSF: Joe Dunbar (Trine) vs. Josh Gove (Alma) CSF: Logan Beard (Alma) vs. Dan Desper (Trine)
"B" Singles (3-4) QF: Kyle Kreps (Hope) def. Trent Pontious (Alma) 6-0, 6-0 QF: David Murray (Trine) def. Justin Meyer (Alma) 6-3, 6-3 CSF: Joey Clark (Trine) vs. Trent Pontious (Alma) CSF: Justin Meyer (Alma) vs. Jarrod Brower (Calvin)
"C" Singles (5-6) QF: Cody Herbuck (Hope) def. Gordon Rumschlag (Alma) 6-3, 6-3 QF: Ben Schippers (Alma) def. Zach Richardson (Trine) 6-2, 2-6, 11-9 SF: Vashon Wright (Calvin) vs. Ben Schippers (Alma) CSF: Tom Griffin (Calvin) vs. Gordon Rumschlag (Alma)
"D" Singles (7-8) QF: Travis Long (Alma) def. Ryan Richman (Trine) 6-4, 6-4 QF: Phil Ryskamp (Alma) def. Trevor Derby (Trine) 6-4, 6-4 SF: Travis Long (Alma) vs. Matt Culver (Hope) SF: Phil Ryskamp (Alma) vs. John Strikwerda (Calvin) or Dan Owen (Hope)
"A" Doubles (1-2) QF: Kyle Kreps/Jon Panzer (Hope) def. Logan Beard/Trent Pontious (Alma) 9-8(7-0) QF: Bobby Cawood/Gabe Casher (Hope) def. Josh Gove/Ben Schippers (Alma) 8-3 CSF: Logan Beard/Trent Pontious (Alma) def. David Murray/Nick Ihrie (Trine) 8-6 CSF: Joe Dunbar/Dan Desper (Trine) def. Josh Gove/Ben Schippers (Alma) 8-3 CF/5th Place: Logan Beard/Trent Pontious (Alma) vs. Joe Dunbar/Dan Desper (Trine) 7th Place: David Murray/Nick Ihrie (Trine) vs. Josh Gove/Ben Schippers (Alma)
"B" Doubles (3-4) QF: Jarrod Brower/Vashan Wright (Calvin) def. Phil Ryskamp/Travis Long (Alma) 8-0 QF: Joey Clark/Ryan Richman (Trine) def. Justin Meyer/Gordon Rumschlag (Alma) 8-4 CSF: Zach Richardson/Trevor Derby (Trine) def. Phil Ryskamp/Travis Long (Alma) 8-5 CSF: Justin Meyer/Gordon Rumschlag (Alma) def. John Strikwerda/Stephen Healy (Calvin) 8-6 CF/5th Place: Zach Richardson/Trevor Derby (Trine) vs. Justin Meyer/Gordon Rumschlag (Alma) 7th Place: Phil Ryskamp/Travis Long (Alma) vs. John Strikwerda/Stephen Healy (Calvin)
