The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s tennis team had two individuals advance in the main draw of the UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic today. Juniors Nick Wingord and John Peacey are in the semifinals of the top two draws after wins on the opening day.
Rain in the Chattanooga area forced play indoors for much of Friday. Teams were able to get back outside for the doubles matches that were played at the end of the day at the Champions Club.
Wingord is the No.
2 seed in the Flight 1 singles. He received a first round bye before posting and epic win against Lipscomb’s Rob Mitchell (3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (15-13). Wingord dropped the first set 6-3, but won the second 6-2. They played a super-tiebreaker to decide the match, which is the first to 10, win by two. Play went a little long as Wingord finally won the clincher 15-13.
Peacey won two matches in the second flight. He defeated Tennessee Tech’s Stanislav Smirnov (6-3, 6-4) and Jacksonville State’s Jefferson Wendler (7-5, 6-4).
Sophomore Derrick Brown scored a (6-2, 6-3) win over Caio Niel of Belmont to open the third flight. He had to drop out of his second round match with an injury.
Peacey teamed with sophomore Nic Wilson for an 8-3 doubles win over TTU’s Smirnov and Artem Tarasov in the top flight. Wingord and junior Luke Saunders also had an 8-3 in in the second flight against Lipscomb’s Thais Minet and John Tougher.
“I thought John and Nick Wingord played really well today,” stated UTC head coach Carlos Garcia. “It is nice to have two guys advance to the semifinals in singles. We also had some success in doubles, so I am anxious to see if we can build on that tomorrow.”
The men are back on the court for doubles at 9:00 a.m. (E.D.T.) at the Champions Club. Be sure to check back to GoMocs.com for complete results.
UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic Men’s Results
Flight 1
Alex Alvaro (EKU) def. Luke Saunders – 6-4, 6-4
Nicklas Wingord (UTC) def. Rob Mitchell (LIP) – 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (15-13)
Flight 2
John Peacey (UTC) def. Stanislav Smimov (TTU) – 6-3, 6-4
John Peacey (UTC) def. Jefferson Wendler (JSU) – 7-5, 6-4
Flight 3
Alvaro Cintas (TTU) def. Austin Boaz (UTC) – 7-6 (5), 6-1
Derrick Brown (UTC) def. Caio Niel (BEL) – 6-2, 6-3
Felipe Diaz (JSU) def. Derrick Brown (UTC) – 6-4, ret.inj.
Felipe Wenzel (JSU) def. Gino Delavalle (UTC) – 2-5, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)
Flight 4
Gabe Pansera (JSU) def. Michael Birnbaum (UTC) – 6-2, 6-0
Michael O’Brien (CC) def. Mason Grear (UTC) – 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (10-6)
Flight 1 Doubles
John Peacey-Nic Wilson (UTC) def. Artem Tarasov-Satnislav Smirnov (TTU) – 8-3
Flight 2 Doubles
Nicklas Wingord-Luke Saunders (UTC) def. Thais Minet-John Tougher (LIP) – 8-3
Flight 3 Doubles
Felipe Diaz-Austin McCormick (JSU) def. Derrick Brown-Austin Boaz (UTC) – 8-3
Flight 4 Doubles
Gabe Pansera-Sam Kellet (JSU) def. Michael Birnbaum-Mason Grear (UTC) – 8-5