Girling, Gutierrez lead men’s tennis at Crimson Tide Fall Championships
Juniors Josh Girling (photo) and Mario Gutierrez led the TTU men's tennis team last weekend at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships. The pair were both in championship matches on Sunday and teamed to make a run in doubles competition.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Junior Josh Girling rebounded from a first round loss to win three consecutive matches and capture the consolation championship in the Namath Draw of the Crimson Tide Fall Championships on Sunday. Girling won in straight sets in the consolation quarterfinals and semifinals before defeating Davy Sandgren of Tennessee (6-7, 6-2, 7-5) in three sets to take the title.
Girling led five Golden Eagles who participated in the Crimson Tide Fall Championships last Friday through Sunday. Tech had a good showing overall, with two individuals and one doubles team playing in final round matches on Sunday. Team scores were not kept.
Junior Mario Gutierrez made quick work of his first three opponents in the Musso Draw, defeating each of them in straight sets, before being tripped up in three sets (4-6, 6-4, 3-6) by Creighton Blanchard of Alabama-Birmingham in the championship match.
Gutierrez and Girling teamed up to made a run in the White Doubles Draw as well. The pair won 8-4 and 8-2 in their first two matches to set up a semifinal match, which they narrowly lost by a score of 8-6.
In the Bryant Draw, sophomore Alex Chen dropped his opening round match before knocking off Igor Ogrizek (6-3, 1-6, 6-4) in the first round of the consolation bracket. Chen then fell to Leon Nasemann (6-2, 6-2) in the consolation semifinal round to be eliminated.
Freshmen Oscar Pachon and Arturo Santa Ruiz were also in action as Pachon finished with a 1-2 record in the Stabler Draw and Santa Ruiz finished 1-2 in Stallings Draw.
Chen and Pachon teamed in the Crimson Doubles Draw but fell, 8-2, in their opening round match.
The Crimson Tide Fall Championships was the final scheduled tournament of the fall for the Golden Eagles men's tennis team. The team will resume play this spring when it begins OVC play.
