Neal Towlson and his Wingate University Men’s Tennis teammates rallied for a 5-4 South Atlantic Conference victory over Mars Hill College at the Hart Tennis Complex.
Wingate won their 24th straight SAC regular season contest and clinch their second consecutive league title. Wingate is 15-5 overall and 9-0 in the SAC. Mars Hill slips to 7-10 overall and 3-5 in the SAC.
“We were down early…and we battled back,” Wingate head coach Michael Cabana says. “Our guys stepped up and played well. We knew what was at stake…this is a huge victory for us.”
Wingate was down 4-2 after Mars Hill junior Lucas Simm outlasted Wingate senior Drew Owen 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 at the number two singles flight. Two freshmen and one sophomore went to work for the visitors, claiming three victories on courts five, four and six to give the Wingate their regular season crown.
Sophomore Ryan Forbes started the rally with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Mars Hill freshman Michael Melvill at the number five position. Forbes was the only Mars Hill player to win twice, as he teamed with freshman Diego Martinez to claim a point at the number three doubles flight.
Wingate freshman Towlson tied the match 4-4 with his 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Mars Hill sophomore Guilherme Lima on court number four. Wingate freshman Josh Eardley won the decisive match for the visitors. He defeated Lion junior Zach High 6-2, 6-1 at the number six singles flight.
Cabana gives his seniors much credit for the team’s 24-match SAC regular season winning streak. “This streak is a testament to our senior leadership,” Cabana says. “They have worked hard…and served as great role models for our younger players. Our team never quits…and this never-say-die attitude comes from our seniors.”
Towlson had earlier gone down 8 – 3 with his doubles-partner Flavio Rathsam to Mars Hill’s Euquerio Guerrero and Enrico Patriarca.
