2009 Season in Review

With their best record in the past four seasons, the Soaring Eagles Men’s Tennis team made leaps and bounds en route to capturing a 4-8 overall record and a 1-7 record in the highly competitive Empire 8. In addition the Soaring Eagles improved upon every match result from the previous season while boasting two selections to the Empire 8’s All Conference First Team.

Capturing 4 of their last 7 matches to finish the season, the Soaring Eagles were led by Gabe Cortes ’11 (Miami, FL -- Miami Country Day) and Eric Klinedinst ’12 (York, PA – Northeastern). As a doubles team they compiled an overall record of 8-3, 6-2 in the Empire 8, helping them earn Empire 8 First Team honors for doubles.

In singles, Cortes and Klinedinst continued to have impressive seasons. Cortes once again proved himself to be one of the conferences elite players as he went 9-3 on the season, not dropping a set in any of his 9 wins en route to being named to the Empire 8 All Conference First Team for the second year running.

In his inaugural season with the Purple and Gold, Klinedinst played with the poise of a seasoned veteran. At the No. 2 singles spot, Klinedinst compiled a 6-5 record, 4-4 in the Empire 8, with three of his four conference losses coming in three sets.

The future looks bright for this young team as key players continued to improve though out the season. Ryan Patterson ’11 (Brattleboro, VT – Brattleboro Union), Matt Montgomery ’12 (Elmira, NY -- Elmira Heights) and Mike DeWitt ’11 (Queensbury, NY – Queensbury) all made great strides this season as they combined to capture 6 wins including 2 match deciding victories.

As a doubles pair, the duo of Patterson and Montgomery came on strong late going 3-4 to end the season while capturing back to back victories to help seal wins over Utica College and SUNY Oswego.

Having graduated no players this season the Soaring Eagles will look to the team’s two elder statesmen in Mike Lesslie ’10 (Seneca Falls, NY – Seneca Falls) and Pat Moore ’10 (Chateauguay, QC – Millbrook School) for valuable leadership.

With their entire starting lineup returning for next season, the Soaring Eagles Men’s Tennis team will look to improve upon an impressive season with the hopes of once again returning to the postseason.