Issued: April 26, 2003

BLUGOLDS TAKE THIRD AT NCTA CHAMPIONSHIPS

LA CROSSE - The UW-Eau Claire men's tennis team sent three players to the championship match in taking third place at this year's Northern Collegiate Tennis Association Championships held here today.

At two singles Matt Widder (Jr.-Sheboygan Falls) advanced to the championships with wins over Jon Lang of the University of Minnesota-Morris and Drew Pollek of UW-La Crosse. In the finals Widder fell to Mark McGrath of UW-Oshkosh 3-6, 6-7.

Chris Slagle (So.-St. Paul, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) also advanced to the championships with a straight set victory over Jeff Hagman of Oshkosh and a three-set win over Winona State's Dan Clarke. Slagle fell in the championships to Tom Dubinski of La Crosse in three sets 6-1, 5-7, 0-6.

After receiving a first round bye at six singles Bob Hartman (Fr.-McFarland) defeated Mike Salentine of UW-Whitewater to advance to the finals. Hartman struggled in the championship falling to La Crosse's Jordan Shilts 4-6, 0-6.

Rounding out the Blugold competitors, Ryan Gruhlke (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) took third at one singles, Tyler Litscher (Fr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) took third at three singles and Adam Arians (Jr.-Mankato, MN/Loyola) took fifth at four singles.

Host La Crosse took first with 47 points followed by Oshkosh with 41 and Eau Claire with 37.

Complete Results