Box Score
Annville, PA - The Messiah College men's tennis team hoped to avenge an early season loss to Lebanon Valley in the Commonwealth Conference semifinal match on Wednesday. Messiah played extremely well but was unable to pull off the upset, finally falling by a score of 5-3 to the Dutchmen.
The match began with doubles play and Messiah came out of the gate quickly.
At number two doubles
Peter Shuck and
Zachary Brunner were able to turnaround an 8-5 loss to LVC from earlier in the regular season and won big in this match taking the pro set 8-3.
Andrew Wismer and
Michael Brookhart won the first two games in their match and looked to have all of the momentum, but the Dutchmen's top pairing found the answer to the Falcons play and LVC won 8-3 at number one doubles.
The final doubles match also went to the Dutchmen as
Christopher Brittingham and Dave Wichert loss to LVC's Sam Calabri and Kyle Kahl.
With the Falcons only trailing 2-1 after doubles the team was in a great position to take four of the six singles matches and reach the conference championship on Saturday.
Singles play began on a great note with a huge straight set victory by Wichert at number three singles. In his previous match against Lebanon Valley Wichert needed three sets to be able to defeat Ryan Weitzel. Today, Wichert dominated and cruised to an easy 6-3, 6-0 victory.
Brunner, playing at number five singles, who also beat his LVC foe in three sets in the regular season was in very close match in the first set. With the set tied five games all, Brunner was unable to break Joel Ramos' serve and lost the first set 7-5. Ramos ran away with the match in the second set taking the final set 6-2 over Brunner.
Freshman
Peter Shuck was able to tie the match back up with an impressive victory at number four singles. Shuck only lost two games in the entire match as he cruised through LVC's Andrew Wilson winning 6-1, 6-1.
At the top singles spot freshman
Michael Brookhart played an incredible match with an incredible amount of heart.
Brookhart, who lost to the Dutchmen's Grodzinski earlier in the year, found himself very much alive in the first set as he was only trailing 6-4. Unfortunately, Brookhart had a severe knee injury and it looked like he was not going to be able to finish the match.
"I told him four or five times that he needed to come off the court and end his match," head men's tennis coach
Jon Arosell said. "He refused to give up, he played through the pain and was still diving for balls, he showed his team how big his heart is and how much he wanted to win for them."
With Brookhart back in the match, Grodzinski took advantage of Brookhart's pain and won the first set 6-4. Despite the tremendous effort by Brookhart to try and pull off the improbable win he eventually lost the second set 6-2.
Lebanon Valley would clinch the match after Brittingham fell at number six singles to Calabria, who became LVC's all-time leader in single season wins.
The only match to go unfinished was the match with the most intrigue.
Andrew Wismer, playing at number two singles for Messiah, was the only starting senior and one of two on this year's team. He had lost earlier in the year to LVC's Roger Van Scyoc in straight sets and did not want to lose what could have been, and turned out to be, his final collegiate tennis match.
"We all wanted to win and give Andew at least one more match, and he came out and played out of his mind," Arosell added. "After losing to this kid earlier in the year, I know Andrew would have won this match."
Wismer fought, battled, and did whatever he needed to do to win points against Van Scyoc. His consistent forehand and reliable back hand, combined with aggresive net play lead to Wismer taking the first set 6-4 and in perfect position to win his final match.
As the second set began Wismer continued where he left off from the first set. He was in control of the match, but unfortunately they had to stop playing because of tournament rules once the match has been decided.
"I was so proud of our team and the way that we played," Arosell went on to say. "It showed the heart of this team. We forced Lebanon Valley to play their best tennis and did not make it easy on them. To their credit they played extremely well and were able to come away with the win."
The loss ends the Falcons season, as the team finishes with an overall record of 7-6 and a regular season conference record of 5-2.
"This was just a great season for our team," Arosell said. "We had a total team effort in this match and every other match. I like this team, the future is bright."
