Men’s tennis serves up a strong performance at UW-Whitewater
Aiden Klass `25 (not pictured) and Leo Esztergomi `24 (above) won 8-4 against a duo from the University of Wiscon- sin-Whitewater on Feb. 12. Their opponents are ranked 15th nationally and 4th in the region.
February 19, 2023
A successful tournament at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-Whitewater) has the Grinnell men’s tennis team hopeful for the rest of the season. The Feb. 11-12 tournament brought impressive performances against nationally ranked teams as well as revitalized team energy and cheering, according to Zack Hasenyager, men’s tennis head coach.
Standout performances from the tournament include a doubles win for Leo Esztergomi `24 and Aiden Klass `25 as well as a doubles win for Karch Knoll `25 and Lucas Willett `26, both over the UW-Whitewater men’s tennis team, who are currently ranked seventh in the region.
Wilder Cooke `25, Willett, Klass and Deuce Daniel `26 also won their singles matches against Luther College.
Esztergomi, Cooke, Willet and Klass won their singles matches against Wheaton College.
With these doubles and singles wins, the team is in a much different place than last year at this same tournament. Hasenyager said the team underperformed against the same teams last year, but turned it around this year.
“I think we’re just more prepared to walk into that competitive environment, and it really showed. It was fantastic,” Hasenyager said.
The players felt this shift as well, noting the difference in energy during matches compared to last season. According to Klass, that energy was evident through the support and cheering that the athletes offered each other from the sidelines.
“I think last year we weren’t as close as a team, and we didn’t come out in full force and energy like we did this weekend,” said Knoll.
The doubles team of Esztergomi and Klass went undefeated over the weekend. This partnership was the product of pairing rearranging at the practices leading up to the weekend. “We kind of clicked and it turned out really well,” Esztergomi said.
I think last year we weren’t as close as a team, and we didn’t come out in full force and energy like we did this weekend.
— Karch Knoll `25
Both Klass and Esztergomi attributed their cohesion as a pair to their energy on the court and their ability to make big plays. This energy contributed to the moment Hasenyager said was his highlight of the weekend: the duo’s win against UW-Whitewater.
“It was really electric. There was a ton of energy and just a really happy moment. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” Klass said.
I think we’re just more prepared to walk into that competitive environment, and it really showed. It was fantastic.
— Zack Hasenyager, head men’s tennis coach
Looking towards the rest of their season, Hasenyager said he is optimistic about defending their Midwest Conference championship titles from last season and becoming nationally ranked.
Hasenyager said he hopes to continue to play these high-caliber teams in order to move up in the regional rankings and edge their way into the national rankings. Last season, Grinnell was ranked seventh by the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III in Region VII.
Knoll and Klass said they’re looking forward to the coming matches, specifically the home match against Northwestern College on Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. in the Fieldhouse.
