The NCAA News - News and Features

June 1, 1998

Banana Slugs cruise to fourth team title in III men's tennis

UC Santa Cruz claimed its fourth title at the Division III Men's Tennis Championships May 20 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with a 4-2 win over host Williams.

The Banana Slugs swept the doubles for the early lead after struggling to win the tiebreaker in the first doubles match. It then only took five singles matches to clinch the Banana Slugs' victory.

UC Santa Cruz advanced to the championship match by defeating third-place Kalamazoo, 5-2, in the semifinals. Williams advanced with a 5-1 victory over Emory.

After cruising through doubles play in the finals with 9-8, 8-6 and 8-5 wins, the Banana Slugs sealed the title with victories from Thomas Oechel, Josh Goodley and Derek Fitzpatrick at Nos. 2, 4 and 6 singles, respectively.

UC Santa Cruz head coach Bob Hansen credited Goodley's performance as a major factor in his team's win.

"He was absolutely sensational in both matches of the tournament," Hansen said. "Goodley played better in the past two days than he ever has in his life. I'm so proud to see a senior step up like he did."

UC Santa Cruz ended its season with an 18-3 overall record, while Williams, which had been unbeaten heading into the finals, wrapped up a 15-1 campaign.

In addition to the team title, UC Santa Cruz also took home a win in the doubles championship. Two UC Santa Cruz pairs -- Brian Cummings and Oechel, and Peter Gladkin and Goodley -- slugged it out in the championship match. Cummings and Oechel, who placed second in last year's doubles championship, defeated their teammates and became the third UC Santa Cruz doubles team to win the title.

"I didn't coach at all (in the doubles final)," Hansen said. "Actually, one of my players told me that he wasn't going to play against a team that was being coached by me. I sat back and enjoyed the match. Both teams played very well."

The singles title went to David Weisman of Babson, who defeated Oechel in the quarterfinals, then beat Jenia Karimov of Cal Lutheran, 0-6, 6-4, 6-1, in the semifinals, to advance to the final match where he quickly defeated Kalamazoo's Steve Nasson, 6-1, 6-2.

Weisman ended his spring season with a 19-0 record, losing only two sets all year.

"I really can't explain the joy I am feeling ... (I) was so glad to win this tournament for myself and Babson College," Weisman said. "My coach (Scott Wilkins) was a great help throughout this tournament and really kept me sharp. I knew when I hit around this morning, it was going to be a good day and everything just came together in the finals. This is the best feeling of my life."