For the second year in a row, the St. John Fisher men’s tennis team achieved ten wins by defeating Roberts Wesleyan College 5-4 on Monday, April 10.
Junior Ryan Kubiak and freshman Karl Schiefer won Fisher’s only point in doubles, defeating Eric Bellingor and Grant Dietert 9-8. Senior co-captain Dale Stoker beat Josh Marcello 6-1, 6-1 in third singles.
With the win, the team remains perfect in the Empire 8 Conference and 10-3 overall.
On Saturday, April 8, the Cardinals didn’t win a single game against SUNY Oneonta, losing 7-0.
“Oneonta played us very aggressively,” said freshman Phil Coleman.
Co-captain Tom Linhart and sophomore Donnie Sherman lost to Eric Bratt and Shaun Goodman 8-1 in first doubles. In first singles, Linhart fell to Bratt 6-0, 6-1.
“They were very well prepared and executed like no one else we have played all year so far,” added Sherman.
The team walked away from the match with many lessons learned.
“When you play strong teams, it makes your team better and you learn by your losses what it is to work on to get better for the next match,” said head coach Linda Gohagan.
Two days earlier, the team defeated RIT 6-1 at home. Number one player Aaron Haak came back to win against Jose Guzman after losing the first set 1-6, 6-1 (10-8). Kubiak also came back to win his match versus the Tiger’s Chris Meunch 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Mental toughness was the key to the Cardinal’s victory.
“Our mental preparation and off-season training helped give us the edge over our competition on the court,” Stoker said.
“Coach preaches mental toughness all the time and it really paid off in a match as big as this one,” said freshman Joe Koehler.
The match versus the Tigers was extra-special for Linhart and Stoker, the two seniors on the team.
“We all really wanted to win especially for the seniors who have not beat RIT in our four years and that showed in our intensity throughout the match,” said Linhart.
Gohagan strives for patience for the rest of the season.
“We have to continue to prepare for each match one at a time,” said Gohagan.
“We are just hoping to close out the regular season strong and build momentum heading into the Empire 8 Tournament,” Koehler said.
STAFF WRITER
CARA PINK
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