Box Score MADISON, WI. – The MWC Individual Championships were hosted for the final time, and Cornell's men's tennis team finished strong in the event's last edition. First-years
Jack Saunders and
Henry Lambley earned runner-up finishes in singles, while the Rams secured semi-final appearances in all other singles and doubles fields.
Saunders playing at the No. 2 singles bracket cruised through his quarterfinal match 6-1 6-1 over Antonio Perez of Monmouth. In the semi-final round, Saunders went up against the No. 2 seed Bernardo Aguiar of Lake Forest and prevailed 6-4 2-1 before Aguiar retired due to injury. In the finals, Saunders fell 6-2 6-4 to Maxi Gutbezahl of Grinnell.
Lambley had a strong first day of play on Saturday with two quick wins in the No. 5 singles field. Lambley defeated Chas Sims of Monmouth 6-0 6-0 in the opening round, before coasting to a 6-2 6-0 win over No. 2 seed Daniel Fotiev of Lake Forest. Also facing Grinnell in the final, Lambley dropped a 6-3 6-3 decision to Albert Bostoen.
Saunders and Lambley were the sixth and seventh entries for the Rams to reach the finals in the past five years.
Cornell fielded semifinalists in the remaining singles brackets with
Trent Devore at No. 1,
Zachary Ong at No. 2,
Drew Campbell at No. 4 and
Mills Arnold at No. 6, all winning their first round matches before falling in the semi-final round.
The Rams also had semi-final showings in all three doubles fields. Devore and Saunders nearly escaped with a win over No. 1 seed from Lake Forest, ultimately falling 8-6. Arnold and
Sam Cumicek at No. 2 and Ong and Lambley at No. 3 earned top four finishes as well.
Saunders concluded the year with a team best 34 wins
Arnold concluded the year with a team best 35 wins, and partnered with Devore for a team best 10-5 of all doubles duos. Ong posted 19 victories on the year, ending his stellar career with 111 career wins, good for sixth all time in program history.
The Rams finished the dual season 14-12 overall.