GOSHEN, Ind. — Goshen College men's tennis coach Stan King broke a 40-year-old record Tuesday afternoon as the Maple Leafs won the first eight matches off the courts and claimed an 8-1 victory over Spring Arbor University in the quarterfinals of the Crossroads League tournament.
The victory was King's 105th as a collegiate head coach, surpassing the school record of 104 set by Roman Gingerich in 17 non-consecutive seasons between 1957 and 1975. Gingerich finished his career with a 104-43 record. As he also finishes his 17th season, King's mark is 105-101.
"I know I speak for many of us when I say I am thrilled for Stan to set this record," said Goshen athletic director Josh Gleason. "The last person who wants to talk about Stan King is Stan King himself, which is one of the traits that make him an excellent coach and an excellent man. His commitment to this institution cannot be understated and it has clearly paid dividends."
The Maple Leafs began their match with a sweep of all three doubles positions. At no. 3, Aritha Weerasinghe and Kartikeya Sharma dropped only a single game in winning 8-1. One position higher, Balazs Pirot and Eric Zuercher dropped their first four games before reeling off eight of the next 10 to win the match.
Goshen won all six singles matches in straight sets when the teams played earlier this season in Spring Arbor, Mich. Tuesday, despite playing without their top two players, the Maple Leafs replicated that feat at five of the six positions. Vasanth Palanisamy was the first Maple Leaf to post a singles win with a 6-0, 6-1 win at no. 4, and Michael Oyer clinched the team match with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at no. 5.
Eric Zuercher, Kartikeya Sharma and Aritha Weerasinghe followed in short order to improve the team score to 8-0. Jon Kaasa, playing at no. 1, won the second set in a tiebreak to force a third-set super-tiebreaker, but was unable to pull out the match win.
With the victory, Goshen (11-1) advances to the semifinals of the conference tournament, and as the no. 2 seed, the Maple Leafs will host it. No. 3 seed Indiana Wesleyan will serve as the opposition when play begins at 3 p.m. on Thursday. The winner of the Goshen/Indiana Wesleyan match will face either Marian or Grace on Saturday for the tournament title.
More, including comments from King, to come when available.
Full Results: Goshen 8, Spring Arbor 1
Singles:
1. Jesse DeBoer (SA) def. Jon Kaasa 7-6(4), 6-7(4), (10-8)
2. Aritha Weerasinghe (G) def. Nick Romano 6-2, 6-2
3. Eric Zuercher (G) def. Vincent McShane 6-1, 6-1
4. Vasanth Palanisamy (G) def. Jacob Byrd 6-0, 6-1
5. Michael Oyer (G) def. Josh Scott 6-2, 6-0
6. Kartikeya Sharma (G) def. Sam Head 6-0, 6-1
Doubles:
1. Kaasa/Palanisamy (G) def. DeBoer/Romano 8-5
2. Balazs Pirot/Zuercher (G) def. McShane/Byrd 8-6
3. Weerasinghe/Sharma (G) def. Scott/Thomas Hall 8-1
