CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Colgate men's tennis traveled to ITA New England Regionals hosted by Harvard University, which began on Thursday, October 8. The event featured players from the Ivy League, the ACC, the Patriot League, and more. The Raiders had six players selected to represent Colgate, including two singles players in junior Lochlan Seth and first-year Jack Babka. On the doubles side, Seth/Babka competed in the main draw along with the teams of senior-captain Parker McGowan and sophomore Tim Vargas, and junior Wesley Nichols with sophomore Witt Bulger.

COACH PENNINGTON'S COMMENTS
"Overall, this was our best ITA in many, many years, 11 to be exact. To last five days with 40 of the best D1 teams in our region speaks volumes about where our program is headed. Logistics, swagger, tradition and winning is back. Credit to Captain McGowan and Tim Vargas for playing outstanding doubles to get to the Round of 16. Other action included Wesley Nichols and Witt Bulger almost beat one of the top teams in the region in Cornell. Lochlan Seth and Jack Babka competed as well. We now look forward to Patriot Leagues"

Action began on Thursday with Babka highlighting action on the day, competing in the qualifying singles draw. Babka fell to his opponent from Le Moyne in the opening round, but would compete in a consolation match against Cornell, in which he fought hard through a match ending in a third set tiebreak.

On Friday, the day started with first round doubles action. McGowan/Vargas would highlight play, recording an 8-5 victory against Siena, advancing to the second round on Saturday. Seth/Babka would fall 3-8 to their opponents from Marist, and Nichols/Bulger competed very well against the seventh seeds from Cornell, losing in a set tiebreak 7-8(3), after holding three match points earlier in the set.

In singles action on Friday, Seth would fall against Dartmouth in the first round of main draw play. Four other Raiders were able to play additional singles matches, including Vargas who would win 6-4 6-2 against Quinnipiac. Nichols would compete against Marist, in a match that went the distance, with him eventually falling in a hard fought match, 1-6 6-2 8-10. Bulger and McGowan would also compete well against Buffalo and Yale, respectively.

Play resumed on Saturday with McGowan/Vargas being the sole competitors remaining for the Raiders. The pair would take on a team from Cornell in second round doubles action, where they would triumph 8-7(6) in a tight set to advance to the Round of 16.

McGowan/Vargas would continue their run on Sunday, competing against a pair from Quinnipiac. The Raiders would play a competitive match, but would ultimately fall to their opponents 3-8. This Round of 16 performance would be the farthest ITA run by a Colgate team in eleven years.

NEXT UP
The Raiders round out their fall season at the Patriot League Individual Championship at Army West Point, beginning on Friday, October 23 with two singles players and a doubles team representing Colgate.