2008 Season In Review

 Under the guidance of Head Coach Phil Levkanich, the Soaring Eagles men’s tennis team experienced a rebuilding year. With only two players with more then a years experience this year’s squad lacked experience but made up for it with hard work and determination. Despite an 0-11 record the future for the Soaring Eagles looks bright.

Leading the Soaring Eagles in their 2008 campaign were Captains Chandler Paradis ’08 (South Windsor, CT -- East Catholic) and Dan Moore ’08 (Monkton, MD -- Hereford). In their final year wearing the Purple and Gold the tandem captured wins over tough opponents. Moore would capture a victory over SUNY Oneonta in singles and over SUNY Oswego in doubles. Paradis would help rally EC against Keuka with a three set victory.

The only other returning player for the Soaring Eagles was second year player Michael Lesslie ’10 (Seneca Falls, NY -- Seneca Falls). Lesslie would see time at both third singles and first doubles. At the top doubles spot, Lesslie and partner Gabe Cortes ’11 (Miami, FL -- Miami County Day School) captured an 8-5 victory over Nazareth.

With 8 players in their first year as a member of the tennis team, the Purple and Gold had a great deal of potential. At the head of this group was Cortes. In his first year Cortes would garner Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and First Team All Conference honors. After dropping his first match of the year, Cortes would go on to win his next ten matches in straight sets and would finish the season with one of the best records in program history.

Behind Cortes was Ryan Patterson ’11 (Brattleboro, VT -- Brattleboro), Ryan Smith ’10 (Monticello, NY Monticello), Pat Moore ’10 (Chateauguay, GC -- Millbrook School), Koji Shimogama ’11 (Tokyo, Japan -- KaiSei High School), Sem Tamang ’11 (Kathmandu, Nepal -- Kathmandu), Tim Wagner ’11 (Corinth, NY -- Corinth) and Dylan Kilbourne ’11(Cohocton, NY -- Wayland-Cohocton). Each would see valuable playing time in their inaugural season and will be looked upon to make a push for a starting position next year.

Playing at second singles and second doubles with partner Paradis, Patterson gained valuable experience and will be looked upon to make an immediate impact in his second season with the Soaring Eagles along with P. Moore.

The Soaring Eagles lose D. Moore and Paradis to graduation.