Men’s tennis has historic finish at nationals

Saints come home with national champion and two runner-up titles

Crusader

ROME, Georgia—The Seward County Community College tennis team had three individual players compete in the NJCAA ITA cup, Oct. 17-19. Karl Wurth and Sander Jans played in the doubles tournament while Gabe Ortiz  and Jans competed in the singles matches in Rome, Georgia.

The championship game for singles was hard fought between the two SCCC players. They had to play each other to determine a champion and runner-up.It was a rematch from the regional tournament. Ortiz came away with the win over Jans at 6-4, 6-0.

In the doubles draw, Wurth and Jans lost in two sets, 6-7 and 3-6. They come home with the runner-up trophy.

Ortiz and Jans earned a spot in the singles semifinals after the first round. Jans won his semifinals match with a score of  6-3, 6-3 against Ortiz, who lost but still earned a spot in semifinals.

This would be the first time in school history that two Saints compete against one another for a National Championship in singles.

For the doubles matches, Jans and Wurth won 7-5, 7-5 in the first round, which moved them up to semifinals. The team won 6-3, 6-2, and moved  onto the National Championship for doubles.

Ortiz successfully won in the singles JUCO National Championship, defeating his teammate, Jans. The game ended with a score of 6-4, 6-0.

However, Wurth and Sanders lost in the National Championship, 6-7, 3-6 in the doubles draw.

SCCC left the championship placing first and second in the singles draw.