New Market, MD - The Wagner men's tennis team remained undefeated in Northeast Conference (NEC) play, defeating the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers, 4-3, in a thrilling, back-and-forth contest. With the victory, the Seahawks move to 3-0 in league action and 9-5 overall while the Mountaineers fall to 2-10 and 1-3 in conference matches.
"We watched a video earlier this week, 'Leadership Lessons from the Gridiron,' centered around 2005 Pro Football Hall of Famer, Steve Young, and the main focus was accountability," commented head coach
Jason Sinkoff. "Mount beat us last year, 4-3, and we really wanted to come out with a lot of intensity and the guys did just that. The guys are pumped and excited for our matches next weekend."
In doubles action, the pairing of freshman
Dylan Walters (Johannesburg, South Africa/St. Stithians Boys' College) and sophomore
Eric Poland (Fort Meyers, FL/Bishop Verot) defeated Jean Armstrong/Zachary Burau, 6-4. The Mountaineers even the score at 1-1 after picking up a 7-5 victory at No. 3, setting up the deciding match at Flight No. 1. Sophomore
Dale Sandy (Durban, South Africa/Kersney College Secondary School) and
Anatoliy Lashkul (Kiev, Ukraine/High School #78) battled Mateo DeSomocurcio/Darren Mast. After a tight battle, it was Sandy and Lashkul victorious as they outlast DeSomocurcio/Mast, 7-6 (7-5), giving Wagner a 1-0 lead in the overall match.
In singles action, the Mountaineers raced out to a 2-1 advantage after earning wins at No. 2 and No. 1. The Seahawks tied the match at 2-2 when freshman
Hans Ohrner (Margate, FL/Coral Springs Christian Academy) defeated Louis Tonon, 6-3; 7-5. Walters was able to outlast Brandon Wortkotter in their match at No. 4. After dropping the first set, 4-6, Walters was able to secure the win with back-to-back 6-3 winners, giving the Green & White a 3-2 advantage. The Mountaineers rallied in No. 5 play as Peter Landis defeated Poland, 6-2, 6-3, setting up a decisive contest at No. 6.
Junior
Charlton Boyd (Shreveport, LA/Loyola College Prep) was pitted against Armstrong in the finale. Boyd won the first set, 6-2. Armstrong was able to rally and comeback in the second set, winning 6-4. In the final set, Boyd, the all-time leader in singles victories since 2005, clinched the win for the Green & White and earned his 46th career singles win in the process, closing out the match with a 6-3 victory in the third set.
"Our team captain (Boyd) raised his game in that final set," coach Sinkoff said. "he was the last one out there, with the focus on him. Charlton thrives in these pressure situations and handled it extremely well as he fed off the support and energy from his fellow teammates.
The Seahawks will remain on the road as they travel to Waterbury, CT to tangle with Division II member, Post University, on March 31.
