Video: Jim Frederick Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – TALK ABOUT A MASSIVE WIN!!! Carson-Newman men's tennis (12-4, 6-1 SAC) were back at home Saturday in one of the season's most anticipated matchups as the no. 38 Wingate Bulldogs came to town. The Eagles were looking for their first series win in program history over the Bulldogs as they came into Saturday an daunting 0-12.
However, every day is a new day and the sun continues to shine as for the first time in program history, it was Carson-Newman claiming victory over Wingate by a final of 4-3 from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex. The two programs battled for six and a half hours on Saturday, as no team was ready to surrender at any point.
"I told the guys that was this means to us is that we can beat anybody," head coach Jim Frederick said. "We have to be ready to play but we can beat anybody. We've had many similar experiences in the past and for us to get this type of win, it shows that we can definitely play with the best people."
The morning did not get started as anyone would have liked as Wingate secured the doubles point and early 1-0 advantage after claiming all three matches.
The first match completed was an absolute one-sided affair as Marnix Van Dalen (Netherlands) and Rintaro Oka (Narita, Japan) were no match for their opponents, losing 6-1 in near record time.
However, both number one and two action would be back-and-forth as C-N looked to right the ship and prove their worth.
In number two doubles, the Orange and Blue pairing of Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) and Lars Hordijk (Dordrecht, South Holland) fought tooth and nail for any sort of momentum as they would nearly pull off a victory, losing by a final of 7-6.
Despite the point already being decided, it was almost irrelevant for the action at number one doubles. C-N placed Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) and Gjorgji Jankulovski (Macedonia) in the position to see if a win could be mustered. However, like their fellow Eagles, it would not be enough as Wingate won 7-5 and carried all the momentum into singles play.
Singles competition saw the Eagles with their backs against the wall as they looked to respond and fight back into the match in order to avoid their 14th straight L to the team from N.C.
The Eagles would level the score at one apiece after Marc Janse pulled through with the first singles win of the day. The junior would win his first set 6-2 as he looked to continue his momentum and claim the win in the two-set minimum. Well, as fate would have it, Janse stepped up once more in the second set and claimed another 6-2 result in his favor, thus placing C-N on the board and moving the match momentum back in the home team's favor.
From there, it would be number six singles finishing up next as both sides looked to gain the edge. After battling to a 6-3 defeat in set one, Lars Hordijk was laser focused on gaining the second set and forcing a decisive third set for the point. However, he would not be able to overcome his opponent as Wingate gained the 2-1 edge after winning number six 6-3, 6-4.
The final match of the first round of action to finish was number four singles where the Orange and Blue placed full trust in the racquet of Gjorgji Jankulovski. The freshman has been called upon to step up in massive moments all season long, and Saturday was no different. In one of the two matches to go a full three sets, Jankulovski would take set one 6-3. He would then drop set no. two by scores of 2-6. However, he did not lose focus as in set three, he rattled off another monumental win with a final of 7-6.
Then, it was time for numbers one, three, and five singles to take the court. First on and off the court for C-N would be Marnix Van Dalen, playing at number one position. The freshman seemed to be overmatched once more as he would be swept in two sets by scores of 7-6, 6-1.
However, the match would not be over anytime soon as the score was once more level after action at number three singles concluded. C-N senior Rintaro Oka would play to one of the most dominant victories in all Saturday's singles. The Japan native is known for his meticulous and quiet style of play, and it paid off once more as the senior would win 6-0, 6-3 and level the score at three apiece.
"This was a huge win and the way he won kind of set us up for the feeling that we could do this," Frederick said.
This set up a showdown for the ages at number five singles, where none other than "Mr. Theatrics" himself, Ids Waterbolk, would be in action.
"When you lose like we did at number one, everyone else stepped up," Frederick said. "That is the mark of a good team. Everybody can't win every day and as long as you keep fighting, people step up in the right time."
The tallest player of any C-N tennis team this season, Ids Waterbolk, was the last Eagle to be on the court Saturday as the match neared the seven-hour duration mark. The junior would take set one by a score of 7-6. His opponent would return the favor and win the second set by the same score (7-6) to set up a decisive third set for not only the point but the entire match.
LETS. GO. IDSY.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 2, 2022
Ids Waterbolk gives #CNMT their first win over Wingate in over a decade
�� #CNMT 4
�� @WingateTennis 3
FINAL pic.twitter.com/1Vgsz52Rwn
Both programs were on the court as they looked to cheer on their athlete to a pivotal win in SAC play for 2022. Well, Lady Luck was once more on the side of the Eagles as Waterbolk claimed a 6-4 win in set three as he got dogpiled by the rest of C-N in pure jubilation.
The Eagles continue their SAC season with a road trip to Newberry, S.C. on Tuesday as the Eagles look to prepare for battle with the Wolves. First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman men's tennis via cneagles.com and on all social media outlets.
- CN -
