Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

4/25/05
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC Men’s Tennis Earns Trip to Nationals

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College men’s tennis team experienced something at the end of the season in 2004 the previous 21 teams had not - disappointment. The Cavaliers 21-year string of qualifying for the NJCAA National Tennis Tournament came to a crushing halt last year as the Cavaliers finished fourth in the Region VI Tournament. This year, JCCC looked to start another string, and they did, placing third in the 2005 Region VI Tournament in Wichita, Kan., last weekend. The top three teams from the region qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament May 16-20, in Plano, Texas.

The Cavaliers did not have an individual champion, but did reach the finals in three of six singles brackets, and one of three doubles competitions. Sophomore Rob Bianco (Johannesburg, South Africa) reached the finals at the No. 1 spot, falling to Laurent Croise of Barton County, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Bianco reached the final match with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Julian Rios of Cowley County.

Sophomore Drew Machholz (Kansas City, Mo.) reached the finals at No. 3 singles, falling to Loic hereson of Barton County, 2-6, 0-6. He opened play with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Kyle Martin of Hutchinson, then downed Marijn Bal of Cowley County in the semifinals 6-2, 6-2. Machholz had lost to Bal earlier in the season in straight sets.

Freshman Mark Milner (Borger, Texas) reached the finals at No. 4 singles, falling to Victor Lage of Barton County 1-6, 1-6. Milner opened the tournament with an easy 6-0, 6-1 win over Preston Moore of Hutchinson, then pounded out a hard-fought 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 win over Alejandro Gomez of Seward County in the semifinals.

Other key matches were turned in by freshman Diego Mayorga (Bogota, Columbia) at No. 2 singles and sophomore Martin Renteria (Clint, Texas) at No. 6 singles. Both players lost their semifinals matches, but rebounded to place third in their respective brackets. Mayorga downed Thiago Lins of Seward County 6-4, 6-2 in his third-place match, and Renteria shot down Josh Rollins of Seward County 7-5, 6-4 in his match. Renteria’s match proved the key match that secured the Cavaliers a third place team finish.

In doubles play, Machholz and Milner lost to tough match to Lois hereson and Gui Jasmin of Barton County in the No. 2 doubles bracket. The JCCC duo opened the title match with a 6-4 victory, but Barton County came back to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-2 to win the title.