Net News - Feb. 28
2/28/2020 8:14:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Greetings from the Swamp…Gainesville, Florida.
We arrived this afternoon under blue skies and sunshine, something that has been hit or miss in Tuscaloosa these past ten days. The air was clear and crisp which was refreshing than typical trips to the Sunshine State as warm temperatures would capture our delight but also be something different than what we were used to this time of year. So the cooler temps and chillier evening once the sun had set felt more like home. This weekend kicks off the next phase of the exciting Spring season. It is a time that we look most forward to as the challenges, opportunities, struggles and gains that lie ahead are the juiciest part of our year – Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. Like placing a nice steak on the grill, there must be careful attention to how the meat is prepped, seasoned, cooked and ultimately enjoyed. Too much preparation and spice can impact the taste as can the size and heat of the flame that burns below. The length of time on the cooking grates can determine whether you're under- or overcooked, while the enjoyment of this time of year must be shared by all or your steak is nothing more than a piece of gristle. Several years ago, the conference launched a branding campaign to tell the other side of the story of the SEC versus just its athletic success. "It Just Means More" highlighted the history, legacy and overall positive impact the SEC has on people, communities, states and the country. Regardless of where you're from in the States or beyond its borders, when you compete in the SEC you learn and feel exactly what the intention of the branding campaign was and we are so pumped to get things started this weekend even if it's away from Tuscaloosa.
Leading up to this road trip, we got our feet wet in the challenging and exhilarating Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. An eight team men's and women's invitational tournament, the Blue Gray consisted of three dual matches played over a two-day period. Loads of families in Montgomery open the doors to their homes to house the players, while the BG staff provided playing venues (Lagoon Park & O'Connor Tennis Center) that showcased high level tennis from sunrise to sunset. We usually prayed for no rain as there wasn't an indoor backup which meant there could be delays due to Mother Nature and her decision for wet or really cold weather. While we experienced plenty of rain before the start of the BG the show did go on as planned but only with an adjustment of times and format for the first match pushing matches back 90 minutes and playing singles only unless doubles was needed. Our guys dressed warm with compression tights beneath their uniform tops and bottoms while coaches had several layers including a puffy winter jacket. We squared off against Texas Tech in the first round, followed by Arizona second and Ole Miss in the final. The team faced plenty of adversity aside from cold temperatures and rose to the occasion in each match, competing with tremendous resiliency, tenacity and fortitude.
The Red Raiders had their "guns up" as they say in Lubbock but our guys removed their bullets. Senior Edson "El Toro" Ortiz had led our squad over Texas Tech in last year's Blue Gray and did not disappoint a second time around. He defeated the same opponent, Parker Wynn, this time at the top spot and was joined in victory by Riccardo Roberto, Alexey Nesterov, and finally the clinching teammate, Jeremy Gschwendtner, who came back from 2-5 down in the deciding third set to seal the victory in a tiebreaker. Match Bama! Roll Tide!
We then faced a loud and determined Arizona team whose never ending chants of "Let's Go Cats!" and "U of A" bellowed throughout Lagoon from start to finish. Doubles was played in this contest with the decider coming at #2 where Edson and partner/childhood friend Marcelo Sepulveda Garza, dropped a narrow tiebreaker to give the Pac-12 squad an early 1-0 advantage. Following a quick pep talk, the Tide came out swinging. There were times where we had control and never gave it up, as well as times where we did not have control and clawed our way back into the match. To advance to the finals required four singles wins which was not an easy task. It was a seesaw battle with Riccardo, Jeremy and Alexey pushing us one point shy of victory. Zhe Zhou was in a brutal 3-setter, serving up a break 3-2 before cramps led him to an injury timeout. Patrick "PK" Kaukovalta traded blows with his opponent which led to a final set tiebreaker. While our one-of-a-kind and outstanding athletic trainer Katie Wheeler attended to Zhe, PK let it rip with untouchable serves and first ball strike conversions which ultimately pushed us over the top and the Cats' meow was reduced to a purr. What adversity, what courage and what resolve for our team. Match Bama! Roll Tide!
Following our match with Arizona, the team was joined in celebration by former Alabama head coach and husband to the late Roberta Alison Baumgardner - Earl Baumgardner Sr. (1965-1966). What an unexpected and invaluable moment for all of us to meet Coach Earl as his wife Roberta was the first woman to be awarded an athletic scholarship by the Crimson Tide and played on the men's tennis team. She earned three varsity letters, spending most of her college career as Bama's No. 2 singles player. Displaying a skill that transcended gender, she was a ferocious competitor who battled for every point, and even the most talented male players respected her abilities and the way she fought and so often won, despite her much smaller stature. Some opponents forfeited, rather than risk losing to a girl. Some athletic officials openly griped about the dangerous precedent represented by her barrier-crashing career but all she wanted to do was simply play tennis. And Roberta was supported by many, most importantly, Alabama athletic director Paul "Bear" Bryant who helped push a rule through the SEC that allowed her to compete. The guys were in awe as here stood the man whose family had made such a profound impact in Crimson Tide tennis history and also made an invaluable contribution towards our current indoor tennis facility. While Earl could not stay for the final, he joined us in a celebratory huddle and Roll Tide cheer followed by several high fives and smiles.
In the final we faced a familiar foe in Ole Miss. Recent duals with our friends from Oxford had gone the distance. It seemed like a ritual between the two schools. Doubles eluded us once again so it was up to the singles warriors to put on their armor and go to battle. As Mike Tyson responded to a reporter when asked if he was worried about Evander Holyfield and his fight plan he answered, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." Well it was time for us to wipe away the blood and get after it. What resulted was an epic, 4.5 hour tug-of-war battle not only by the players on court but by the fans in the stands who scrambled for warmth and wrapped themselves in as many clothing layers and blankets as humanly possible. Once the sun went down it was colder than a polar bear's toenails. PK, our Scandinavian Viking who thought nothing of the cold, delivered plenty of chilling knockout blows that evened the score at 1-1. When the Rebels won on court 3 and went up 2-1, Edson scored a very impressive performance over All-SEC player Tim Sandkaulen that evened the match 2-2. Ole Miss inched ahead again after winning on court 6 but that lead didn't last long. Zhe returned from muscle cramps against Arizona and posted an emotionally thrilling victory on court 2 which brought the contest to the final frame on court 4. Alexey and Nikola Slavic had battled to tiebreakers in the first two sets. The third set provided opportunities for both players to storm ahead but they wanted this fight to go the distance. To his credit, Slavic successfully executed a first strike opportunity at 5-4, deuce, which led to a forced error by Alexey and the match was settled. 4-3 Rebels. Ugh. What a match as the guys fought until the bitter end as former assistant coach Ryler Deheart would say. A great weekend under tough conditions physically, mentally and emotionally. And most noteworthy was the progress that our squad leaving Lagoon disappointed but with a firm and confident belief in their ability. Hats off to the Blue Gray tournament committee and support staff for holding another great college tennis event as well as to our host families – Will & Amy Chapman, Brooke & Melissa Lawson, Brooks & Jennifer Seale, Spud & Nancy Seale and Noble & Stuart Yelverton – who graciously opened their homes, provided home-cooked meals and incredible hospitality and cheered us on throughout the weekend. Roll Tide and many thanks to all of you.
Following a pair of off days and plenty of recovery treatment thanks to Ms. Katie and her intern Sash-sha Collier, the boys were back on court for a couple of trainings to prepare for this weekend. Both the Gators and Gamecocks are tough customers but who in the SEC isn't? We face Florida Friday at 5pm EST at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex and South Carolina on Sunday at 12pm EST at the Carolina Tennis Center. If you can't join us on the road then catch us online (links to live stats and live stream are at the top). We return home in a week's time to open up our SEC homestand with Kentucky on Friday, March 6 at 6pm and Vanderbilt on Sunday, March 8 at 1pm. Moe's Southwest Grill will provide FREE burritos to fans on Friday night as we also welcome men's club members from Indian Hills, North River and the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center to the match. The Crimson Racket Club will provide another FREE cookout on Sunday against the Commodores with hot dogs and hamburgers fresh off the grill. It's also Alabama Tennis Kids Day and we will give FREE tennis ball yo-yos to boys and girls in attendance and welcome Holy Spirit Catholic School to the match as our special guests. One other special person on hand will be Alabama Football QB Mac Jones who will be our honorary first server. So join us in Gainesville, Columbia, Tuscaloosa or online. Thanks for your continued support and remember, It Just Means More.
Roll Tide!
George
Players Mentioned
