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Colgate University Athletics

MTEN Colgate Invite

Men’s Tennis Competes at Home in Colgate Invitational

| By: Adam Fink '29

Seth, Bulger, and Hessler go undefeated in singles action

HAMILTON – Colgate men's tennis jumped back into action over the weekend by hosting their annual Colgate Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.

The Raiders competed in two days of hidden dual action in singles and doubles against Le Moyne, Hamilton, and Saint Francis (PA), amassing an overall record of 24-11. Colgate battled through several close matches against Le Moyne, and later posted convincing performances against Hamilton and Saint Francis (PA). Junior Lochlan Seth, sophomore Witt Bulger, and freshman Declan Hessler each went 3-0 in singles, with Hessler finishing his fall season undefeated at 5-0. In doubles, senior captain Jerome Falcon and sophomore Adam Fink also went undefeated with three wins.

DAY 1
The Raiders opened play for the weekend inside Sanford Field House with doubles action against Le Moyne, winning a comprehensive three out of four matches against the Dolphins. Junior Wesley Nichols and Bulger grabbed the first win of the day with a 6-3 victory at the No. 3 position. Shortly after, senior captain Parker McGowan and sophomore Tim Vargas won their match by the same scoreline of 6-3 at the No. 2 position. Finally, Falcon/Fink rounded out the only doubles action of the day with a win at the No. 4 position with the score of 7-5.

Play continued with some action heading outdoors to the J.W. Abrahamson Tennis Courts for singles against the Dolphins. Hessler continued his impressive fall season with the first victory of the day by the score of 7-6(5) 6-3. After Hessler, three of the Raiders claimed wins. Bulger was victorious 6-4 6-4, Seth won at the No.1 position with a 6-3 6-4 triumph, and Fink rounded out the first wave of singles at the No. 6 position, overcoming his opponent 6-2 7-5. Nichols also battled through a tightly contested match that went to a third-set tiebreak at the No. 3 position.

After a short break from play, the Raiders got back on the court for singles against Hamilton. The team won a convincing eight of nine singles matches, highlighted by freshman Jack Babka earning his first collegiate singles victory. Babka won at the No. 2 position in a third set tiebreak 3-6 6-4 (10-2). Other victories came from Seth, Bulger, and Hessler, who recorded their second victories of the day, all in straight sets. Additionally, Nichols, McGowan, Falcon, and Vargas all posted straight set wins as well to round out the day.

DAY 2
On Sunday, the Raiders opened up play on the final day of the invitational with doubles against Hamilton outside on the J.W. Abrahamson Tennis Courts. Falcon/Fink highlighted the first wave of doubles with a win at the No. 4 position by the score of 6-4, while McGowan/Vargas fought tough in a set that ended in a tiebreak.

The Raiders then took on Saint Francis (PA), beginning with doubles before closing the weekend with singles action. The team won a combined eight out of nine matches, including a clean 3-0 sweep in doubles. At the No. 1 position, Seth/Babka were victorious 6-2, McGowan/Vargas won 6-3 at the No. 2 position, and Falcon/Fink defeated their opponents 6-0 at the No. 3 position. 

In the final matches of the weekend, the Raiders won five out of six singles matches against Saint Francis (PA). Hessler and Falcon were the first off of the court after both recording 6-0 6-0 wins. Fink would add to the tally with a 7-5 6-2 victory at the No. 4 position, grabbing his second singles victory of the weekend. To round out the invitational, Seth and Bulger both recorded wins in third set tiebreaks to maintain their undefeated weekends in singles play.

COACH PENNINGTON'S COMMENTS
"Overall, I was extremely pleased with our annual men's invite for many reasons. We got very lucky with amazing weather and three very competitive teams making the trip, in Saint Francis, Hamilton, and Le Moyne. We showcased our one through nine singles depth throughout the weekend. Three gameballs go to Lochlan Seth, Witt Bulger, and Declan Hessler for going 3-0 in singles. Overall, our record throughout the entire weekend was 24-11, which is outstanding. More important than the great record is the fact the guys are having a blast and the culture could not be stronger or higher. We look forward to a very challenging ITA at Harvard beginning Thursday."

NEXT UP
The Raiders return to action at the ITA Regionals Tournament at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from Thursday, Oct. 8, through Tuesday, Oct. 13.
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