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.