St. Cloud State Wins NCC Men's Tennis Tournament
The St. Cloud State University men's tennis team claimed its sixth consecutive North Central Conference championship on Sunday, April 22, at the Gold's Gym Tennis Complex in nearby Sartell, Minn.
The Huskies won top honors at the 2007 NCC championships with a team total of 33 points. Winona State placed second in the tournament with 28 points, while Minnesota State Mankato was third at 17 and Augustana was fourth with 12 points.
This marked the Huskies' 14th NCC championship since 1986, as SCSU has won more conference titles in men's tennis than any other NCC program. Along the way in 2007, the Huskies won NCC titles this season at first, fourth, fifth and sixth singles and titles at first and second doubles.
One of those newcomers to the roster this season was Wojciech Batorski, who won top honors at first singles with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Winona State's Kyle Savelkoul in the championship match. In first round play, Batorski posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Drew Stein of Minnesota State.
At second singles, Mike Master gained a 6-3, 6-2 win over Minnesota's Ryan Fredrickson in the semi's before losing 6-3, 6-3 to Winona State's Aaron Lentz in the title bout.
At fourth singles, Kevin Lukens charted a 6-3, 6-0 win over Minnesota State's John Julian in the championship match. He gained a bid to the finals with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) victory over Zach Williams (WSU) in first round play.
At fifth singles, Tom Ronning was impressive with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Augie's Jon Hawkinson in first round play. He claimed the top spot at fifth singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Scott Hessian of Winona State.
To complete the singles flights, Kris Johnson carded a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Kevin Malecha of Winona State in the championship match at #6 singles. In first round play, Johnson rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jack Ruzsa of Minnesota State.
In doubles action, Batorski and Master brought home the gold with an 8-6 win over Savelkoul and Zilka in the title match at #1 doubles. In first round play, Batorski and Master gained an 8-6 win over Ryan Gardner and Eric Olson of Augustana.
The Huskies gained their sixth NCC title of the championships with an 8-3 win in the title match at #2 doubles by Jachymowski and Ronning. They gained an 8-3 win over Minnesota State's Mitch Johnson and Julian. In first round play, Jachymowski and Ronning won an 8-4 victory over Hessian and Williams of Winona State.
Other members of the 2007 NCC Champion men's tennis team from SCSU are sophomore Ryan Schoenefeld and freshman Jimmy Sherouse. The SCSU assistant coaches this season include Larry Sundby, Tony Larson and Scott Johnson.
No. 1 Singles
1sf Kyle Savekoul (Winona State) def. Ryan Gardner (Augustana College) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
1sf Wojciech Batorski (St. Cloud State University) def. Drew Stein (Minnesota State) 6-2, 6-1
1fi Wojciech Batorski (St. Cloud State University) def. Kyle Savekoul (Winona State) 6-1, 6-4
1C Ryan Gardner (Augustana College) def. Drew Stein (Minnesota State) 1-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5)
No. 2 Singles
2sf Aaron Lentz (Winona State) def. Eric Olson (Augustana College) 6-4, 6-0
2sf Mike Master (St. Cloud State University) def. Ryan Frederickson (Minnesota State) 6-3, 6-2
2fi Aaron Lentz (Winona State) def. Mike Master (St. Cloud State University) 6-3, 6-3
2C Ryan Frederickson (Minnesota State) def. Eric Olson (Augustana College) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 Singles
3sf Joey Jachymowski (St. Cloud State) def. Mitch Johnson (Minnesota State) 6-4, 6-0
3sf Ryan Zilka (Winona State) def. Steve Holzwarth (Augustana College) 6-2, 6-0
3fi Ryan Zilka (Winona State) def. Joey Jachymowski (St. Cloud State University) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)
3C Steve Holzwarth (Augustana College) def. Mitch Johnson (Minnesota State) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
2007 NCC Men's Tennis (Cont.)
No. 4 Singles
4sf Kevin Lukens (St. Cloud State University) def. Zach Williams (Winona State) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
4sf John Julian (Minnesota State) def. Thomas Shanor (Augustana College) 6-2, 6-1
4fi Kevin Lukens (St. Cloud State University) def. John Julian (Minnesota State) 6-3, 6-0
4C Zach Williams (Winona State) def. Thomas Shanor (Augustana College) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
No. 5 Singles
5sf Tom Ronning (St. Cloud State University) def. Jonathan Hawkinson (Augustana College) 6-0, 6-0
5sf Scott Hessian (Winona State) def. Bryan Hoff (Minnesota State) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
5fi Tom Ronning (St. Cloud State University) def. Scott Hessian (Winona State) 6-1, 6-1
5C Bryan Hoff (Minnesota State) def. Jonathan Hawkinson (Augustana College) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 Singles
6sf Kris Johnson (St. Cloud State University) def. Jake Ruzsa (Minnesota State) 6-1, 6-1
6sf Kevin Malecha (Winona State) def. Ben Aslesen (Augustana College) 6-2, 6-0
6fi Kris Johnson (St. Cloud State University) def. Kevin Malecha (Winona State) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
6C Jake Ruzsa (Minnesota State) def. Ben Aslesen (Augustana College) 6-2, 6-3
No. 1 Doubles
1sf Wojciech Batorski/Mike Master (St. Cloud State) def. Eric Olson/Ryan Gardner (Augustana) 8-6
1sf Kyle Savekoul/Ryan Zilka (Winona State) def. Drew Stein/Ryan Frederickson (Minnesota State) 8-6
1fi Mike Master/Wojciech Batorski (St. Cloud State) def. Kyle Savekoul/Ryan Zilka (Winona State) 8-6
1C Eric Olson/Ryan Gardner (Augustana) def. Drew Stein/Ryan Frederickson (Minnesota State) 8-4
No. 2 Doubles
2sf Tom Ronning/Joey Jachymowski (St. Cloud State) def. Zach Williams/Scott Hessian (Winona State) 8-4
2sf Mitch Johnson/John Julian (Minnesota State) def. Steve Holzwarth/Thomas Shanor (Augustana) 8-5
2fi Joey Jachymowski/Tom Ronning (St. Cloud State) def. John Julian/Mitch Johnson (Minnesota State) 8-3
2C Scott Hessian/Zach Williams (Winona State) def. Steve Holzwarth/Thomas Shanor (Augustana) 8-2
No. 3 Doubles
3sf Kevin Lukens/Kris Johnson (St. Cloud State) def. Jonathan Hawkinson/Ben Aslesen (Augustana) 8-4
3sf Aaron Lentz/Kevin Malecha (Winona State) def. Adam Doll/Bryan Hoff (Minnesota State) 8-5
3fi Aaron Lentz/Kevin Malecha (Winona State) def. Kevin Lukens/Kris Johnson (St. Cloud State) 9-7
3C Adam Doll/Bryan Hoff (Minnesota State) def. Jonathan Hawkinson/Ben Aslesen (Augustana) 8-3
urnament Notes
sf=semi's, fi=championship, C=3rd place
Final Team Scores: SCSU 33, Winona State 28, Minnesota State Mankato 17, Augustana 12
Note: SCSU has won its sixth consectutive NCC men's tennis championship