2011 Men's Tennis Wrap-up

 

Winning three of their last four matches, the EC Men’s Tennis team concluded one of their most successful seasons to date. Finishing the year with a 6-6 overall record and a 3-5 mark in Empire 8 play left the Soaring Eagles in fifth place in the highly competitive E8 conference.

Leading the way for the 2011 Soaring Eagles was fourth year standout Gabe Cortes ’11 (Miami, FL -- Miami Country Day School). The Miami native finished the year with an 8-2 mark at first singles and a 5-5 doubles mark, playing primarily first doubles. Cortes was recognized at the end of the season by being named to the Empire 8 All-Conference First Team for singles. In singles action he posted a 6-2 mark in conference play which was highlighted with the defeat of regaining Empire 8 Player of the Year Josh Rifkin ’11, a player who had not suffered a conference loss since the spring of 2008. Cortes will leave Elmira leading all major statistical categories including single season singles & doubles wins as well as career singles & doubles wins. With a program setting career record of 58 wins Cortes will surely go down in EC history as one of the all-time greats.

Teaming up with Cortes in doubles play was Pennsylvania native Eric Klinedinst ’12 (York, PA -- Northeastern). Klinedinst posted a 5-4 mark at first doubles and totaled a 6-3 singles record, playing first and second singles. With a conference record of 4-2 at the second spot, Klinedinst was an Empire 8 Honorable Mention honoree. Of his 6 singles wins he only dropped 10 of 77 games played.

The doubles combination of Gorav Simlote ’13 (Syracuse, NY -- Jamesville-Dewitt) and Sam Pine ’14 (Elmira Heights, NY -- Thomas Edison) boasted the best doubles record of the 2011 season for Elmira at 7-4. Posting records of 2-1 at second doubles and 5-3 at third, the duo earned Empire 8 Honorable Mention status. Simlote claimed another doubles win on the season as he teamed up with Klinedinst for a win at the first spot. In singles play he had an even mark with 6 wins and 6 losses playing third and fourth singles. Pine had a solid season in singles play as well, picking up 6 wins at the fifth and sixth singles positions.

Playing primarily second doubles, Ryan Patterson ’11 (Brattleboro, VT -- Brattleboro Union) and Steffan Waters ’13 (Elmira, NY -- Elmira Free Academy) combined for four wins, two coming against conference opponents. Their 8-3 win over Alfred University at the second spot was a key factor as Elmira would go on to victory, edging the Saxons 6-3. Patterson would also earn 2 singles wins, one at third and the other at the second position. Waters would claim four singles victories at the fourth and fifth spots.

Tim Wagner ’11 (Corinth, NY -- Corinth) was named one of Elmira’s tri-captains in his final season with the Purple and Gold. Wagner saw time at sixth singles and third doubles during the 2011 campaign. Against E8 foe Hartwick College Wagner was a double winner as he earned an 8-0 win at third doubles and concluded the afternoon with a 6-3, 6-4 win at sixth singles, sealing a 5-4 win for Elmira. He was also EC’s representative for Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year.

Gene Albury ’13 (Nassau, BS -- St. Andrew's) and Rashad Curry ’12 (Nassau, BS -- St. Anne's) made vast improvements in their development as they saw time in exhibition matches for both singles and doubles.

Elmira will lose Cortes, Patterson, and Wagner to graduation.