Wallace State men’s tennis sends seven entries to NJCAA finals, leads team standings
PLANO, Texas — Wallace State men's tennis strengthened its lead Thursday at the NJCAA Division II National Championship at Collin College, advancing four singles entries and all three doubles teams into Friday's championship finals.
The Lions lead the team standings with 43 points, holding a five-point advantage over second-place Coastal Alabama-South entering the final day of competition.
Angel Gautier continued his strong tournament run in Flight 1 singles, defeating No. 2 seed Nikoloz Gurgenidze 6-3, 6-3 to advance to Friday's championship match against top-seeded Juan Pereyra.
Francois Van Wyk also advanced to the finals in Flight 4 singles with a 6-2, 7-6 victory over Ridge Jones. Van Wyk will face top-seeded Alvaro Velasco in Friday's final.
Luka Uzelac, the top seed in Flight 5 singles, moved into the championship match after defeating Nils Guyot 6-1, 7-6. Uzelac will meet Guyot again in Friday's final.
Tom Kopf, the No. 1 seed in Flight 6 singles, advanced with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Justin Gray. Kopf will face Maximo Yanex in the Flight 6 final.
Jean Badenhorst battled in a three-set semifinal match in Flight 3 singles before falling to top-seeded Milan Olagnon 7-6, 5-7, 7-6. Alexander Grube Andersen was defeated by Jared Escobar 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the Flight 2 semifinals.
Wallace State also advanced all three doubles teams into the finals.
In Flight 1 doubles, Gautier and Grube Andersen rallied for a 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Jake Bucek and Nikoloz Gurgenidze. The Wallace State duo will face Ryland Buford and Angel Hernandez in Friday's championship match.
Badenhorst and Van Wyk advanced to the Flight 2 doubles final with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Nils Guyot and Milan Olagnon. They will face Jan Bako and Warren Hudson in the title match.
In Flight 3 doubles, Kopf and Matias Vargas defeated Cooper Ford and Braden Henderson 6-3, 6-4 to reach the finals. The top-seeded Wallace State pair will play Taylor Cook and Santiago Enriquez for the championship.
Friday championship schedule
Singles Finals — 8 a.m.
Flight 1: Angel Gautier [3] vs. Juan Pereyra [1]
Flight 4: Francois Van Wyk [2] vs. Alvaro Velasco [1]
Flight 5: Luka Uzelac [1] vs. Nils Guyot [2]
Flight 6: Tom Kopf [1] vs. Maximo Yanex [2]
Doubles Finals — 11:30 a.m.
Flight 1: Angel Gautier/Alexander Grube Andersen [3] vs. Ryland Buford/Angel Hernandez [5]
Flight 2: Jean Badenhorst/Francois Van Wyk [3] vs. Jan Bako/Warren Hudson [1]
Flight 3: Tom Kopf/Matias Vargas [1] vs. Taylor Cook/Santiago Enriquez [3]