2010 Men's Tennis Season in Review

For the second straight season the Soaring Eagles Men’s Tennis team earned four wins (4-9 overall, 1-7 Empire 8). One of their four wins came against conference opponent Utica College while the other three were against non-conference teams.

Leading this year’s Soaring Eagles was third year standout Gabe Cortes ’11 (Miami, FL -- Miami Country Day School). The Miami native posted a 9-4 singles record at the first position and captured a 5-8 doubles record playing at the first spot as well. Cortes rode an impressive 5 match win streak during the middle of season which included conference wins over Alfred University, Stevens Tech., and RIT. For his efforts he was named to the Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team. 

Doubles partners Ryan Patterson ’11 (Brattleboro, VT -- Brattleboro Union) and Matt Montgomery ’11 (Elmira, NY -- Thomas Edison) saw success this season playing at the second spot.  The doubles tandem earned 3 wins on the season against Keuka College, Utica College, and SUNY Oswego. In singles action both players would pick up two wins a piece. Classmate Tim Wagner ’11 (Corinth, NY -- Corinth) saw valuable time in the lineup this season. The third year player saw action at 6th singles and 3rd doubles. He earned his lone win in a three set battle at SUNY Oswego. Wagner was also EC’s representative for Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year.

Gorav Simlote ’13 (Syracuse, NY -- Jamesville-Dewitt) and George Smith ’13 (Watseka, IL -- Granite City) had impressive inaugural seasons with the Purple and Gold. Simlote posted a 6-7 singles record playing the 4th-5th-6th positions, which included a 4-3 mark at the fifth spot. He also teamed up with Cortes at first doubles to claim 5 wins. Smith played primarily at 6th singles as he posted a 5-7 singles record and a 1-2 record at 3rd doubles. The two provided the EC lineup with depth, something that they have not had in years past.

Fellow first year player Steffan Waters ’13 (Elmira, NY -- Elmira Free Academy) saw plenty of action in this year’s lineup. The Elmira native posted a 2-8 record playing mostly at the highly competitive second singles position. Waters teamed up with fourth year starter Mike Lesslie ’10 (Seneca Falls, NY -- Senaca Falls) at third doubles to own the teams only winning doubles record at 4-2. The duo would finish the season strong as they would win 3 of their final 4 doubles matches which included conference wins over St. John Fisher College and Utica College.

Eric Klinedinst ’12 (York, PA -- Northeastern) was limited in action this season due to injury. The former All-Conference selection appeared in 4 matches and earned two wins. Jon Abdelkarim ’13 (Hurley, NY -- John A. Coleman) and Gene Albury ’13 (Nassau, BS -- St. Andrew's) both saw improvements in their games this year as they participated in several exhibition matches.

EC will lose Lesslie to graduation.