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SEPT.
23 — Shorthanded Leafs Take Bizarre Win On Road
Altered
format, player positioning doesn't deter team from 5-4
win over St. Joe's |
Rensselaer, IN — From the very outset of the Goshen College men’s
tennis match at NCAA Division II St. Joseph’s College on Saturday,
the odd became the ordinary.
First, the Leafs were without junior Beakal Grima for the match — a
late addition to the schedule — due to prior commitments. Next, rain
moved the event into St. Joe’s indoor complex consisting of a total
three courts. Finally, all matches were to be played as eight-game pro-sets,
since St. Joseph’s women’s tennis team already had a match scheduled
for the indoor courts, giving the men’s match a finite amount of time
to be completed.
With every player playing a position higher than normal in singles
and a change to the doubles’ units due to Girma’s absence, Goshen
performed quite normally in a 5-4 win over the host Pumas.
“This was a good match for us to play and a nice one to put in
the win column,” said Stan King, Goshen head coach. “Given the
circumstances, we put forth a very concentrated effort.”
Goshen (5-3, 1-3) began the day by taking two out of three doubles
matches, as sophomore Sheldon Good teamed with classmate Shyam Sabanathan — Girma’s
usual partner — in the Leafs only loss. Freshmen Aaron Sutter and Joel
King produced an 8-6 win at number one doubles as did seniors JD Windhorst
and Tim Yoder at number three doubles, taking on the Pumas with their usual
mates.
“It’s tough to step on a competitive court with someone you don’t
normally play doubles with,” Stan King said regarding Good’s
and Sabanathan’s performance. “Still, we got off to a good 2-1
lead going into singles play.”
With the entire team moving up a slot in singles play — Yoder, normally
a doubles only player, occupied the number six position — the Leafs
took the necessary three points, winning at number two (Joel King), number
four (Sabanathan) and number six (Yoder).
“Joel King came through with a big, 8-5 win at number two singles
and Tim Yoder’s steady game at number six singles gave us the all-important
fifth team point to put this one in the Leafs’ win column,” Stan
King said. “Sheldon Good and JD Windhorst played hard and won some
great points, but not enough at the right times to win their
singles matches. The math was very close throughout and the final outcome
wasn’t apparent
until very close to the end of play. I was pleased with our effort
and approach to the match.”
Goshen will resume run-of-the-mill, Mid-Central Conference play
Tuesday, as the team travels to Huntington University. Match time is set
for 4 p.m., an hour change from the original 3 p.m. start time.
Singles:
#1 John Simon (SJ) def. Aaron Sutter (G) 8-4
#2 Joel King (G) def Brandon Wood (SJ) 8-5
#3 Kris McNeary (SJ) def Sheldon Good (G) 8-3
#4 Shyam Sabanathan (G) def James Smith (SJ) 8-4
#5 Nate Burton (SJ) def J D Windhorst (Go) 8-6
#6 Tim Yoder (G) def Ben Kalinowski (SJ) 8-5
Doubles:
#1 Sutter/King (G) def Simon/Wood (SJ) 8-6
#2 McNeary/Smith (SJ) def Good/Sabanathan (G) 8-2
#3 Windhorst/Yoder (G) def Burton/Kalinowski (SJ)
8-6
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  Senior
JD Windhorst
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