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Issued: October 1, 2006

MEN’S TENNIS COMPETES AT ITA, GRESSICK WINS OPEN SINGLES TITLE

ST. PETER, MN – This weekend it was the UW-Eau Claire men’s tennis team’s turn to compete at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Region Championships hosted by Gustavus Adolphus (MN).

For those not competing at the ITA Championships there was the Gustavus Midwest Open. The Blugolds’ Brett Gressick (Jr.-De Pere, WI) took home the championship in the singles bracket. He won his first four matches in straight sets. In the quarterfinals he defeated Luke Odegaard of St. John’s (MN) in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 10-6. In the semifinals, Gressick rallied to win a thrilling three-setter over Will Butzlaff of Gustavus 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(6). In the championship match, he defeated Alex Mory of Whitewater 6-0, 7-5 to claim the title.

The Blugolds had four singles players competing at both the ITA championships and the Gustavus Midwest Open. The Blugolds also had three doubles teams competing in the ITA doubles championships and had one doubles team in the Midwest Open doubles bracket.

Tim Eisele (Jr.-Apple Valley, MN) was the only Blugold member seeded in the ITA singles championships as he was the 17th seed. Eisele got a first round bye and then he defeated Andy Kessel of Macalester College (MN) 7-6(3), 6-3. However, in the third round he would lose 6-0, 6-3 to Jack Schiro of Carthage College.

Erik Brandner (Jr.-Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) won his first round match in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 12-10 over Eli Best of Grinnell College (IA). Brandner then lost to the three seed Miguel Yunes of Carthage 6-2, 6-1. Steve Lantz (So.-Rochester, MN/Century) and Phil Loprinzi (Fr.-Rochester, MN/Mayo) both lost their opening match.

However, Lantz would rebound in the consolation bracket, winning his first match 8-0 over Nate Judge of Loras College (IA). He then defeated Chad Anderson of Gustavus Adolphus 8-2. In the third round he beat Bill Stranberg of Whitewater 8-6. However, Lantz would lose in the semifinals to eventual champion Johnny Reed of Whitewater 8-6.

In the ITA doubles championships the team of Brandner and Jeff Peterson (Sr.-Edina, MN) advanced to the third round. In the first round they narrowly defeated the team from Carthage 9-8(3). In the second round they upset the eighth seed from Carleton College (MN) 8-6, but would lose to Gustavus 8-6 in the third round. The team of Eisele and Loprinzi won its first round match, but lost in the second round.

At the Midwest Open, C.J. Rose (Jr.-Lakeville, MN/Apple Valley) won his first two matches before losing to Will Butzlaff of Gustavus 6-4, 6-1 in the fourth round.

The only Blugold doubles team competing in the Midwest Open was the team of Gressick and Brandon Buth (Jr.-Appleton, WI/West). They defeated the team from St. Olaf College (MN) 9-8(4) in the first round and then won their second round match by default. However, they would lose in the quarterfinals.

The Blugolds men’s tennis team will begin their season in the spring.

Tournament Results

- JR -

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