REGIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: MARCH 3RD-MARCH 9TH
A-SOUTH
Player: Brandon Griffin
Team: University of Mary Washington
Results: 5-1 Overall, Wins at #6 Singles against CLU, PP and #2 Doubles against CLU,PP, and Redlands
Recap: The freshman from Mary Washington known as Brandon Griffin was an absolute bright spot this week in the Atlantic South, as he went 5-1 against tough West competition. Moving into the season, I was concerned with the bottom of the Eagles’ lineup given that Rizzolo is no longer with the team. Griffin has stepped up in a big way and that especially showed this week. To his misfortune, the only loss he suffered was a 12-10 3rd Set Tiebreaker that decided the match against Redlands. However, that should not put a damper on what Griffin has already been able to accomplish as a rock solid option at the bottom of the UMW lineup. Also, he has some lush, wavy locks for the ladies of Fredericksburg.
What’s next: UMW takes on their rival Washington and Lee this coming Saturday in what should be an interesting match.
Honorary Mention: Alexander Blahkin, Mary Washington
Hashtag of the week: #ForTheBlog. With the lack of hashtags in the ASouth, I decided to commemorate the official DivisionIIITennis hashtag. Let this hashtag serve as a warning sign to all competitors.
CENTRAL
Player: Jake Humphreys
Team: Wisconsin-Whitewater
Results: 2-0 in singles against Luther/Carthage at #1. 2-0 in doubles at #2
Recap: This basically should be a player of the month thus far for Humphreys because he has been an absolute rock for the Warhawks. He began playing 2 with wins over Geier of Kenyon and Bush of Wash U, but now anchors the lineup at the top spot with wins over Kzoo, Earlham, Gustavus, Chicago, and now Luther and Carthage. He is proving people wrong that his ITA win was a fluke in an easy region. His only loss this spring is to D-1 Northern Illinois. While his wins this week weren’t huge, he deserves the recognition for what he has done up until this point of the season.
What’s next: Unfortunately not much. The Warhawks had a very tough early schedule, but it flattens out in the coming weeks. What this means is he is a virtual lock for nationals.
Honorary Mention: Wade Heerboth, Kenyon
Hashtag of the week: #SailLutherNorse
NE
Player: Carl Reid
Team: Colby Mules
Results: 1 dubs win vs. Middlebury, 1 dubs win vs. Brandeis, 1 singles win vs. Brandeis
Recap: 1st week of NCAA dual matches, 1st Player of the Week Award to Mr. Carl Reid! Carl hails from Mattapan, Massachusetts, enjoys a home cooked meal and long walks on the beach. On Saturday, Carl teamed up with fellow freshmen and doubles partner Vlad Murad to dispatch Middlebury’s seasoned team of Johnston and Lebovitz, earning Colby’s lone point in a tight 9-7 contest. In singles, Reid dropped a tight tie breaker set, before storming back to force a super at #2 singles. Reid eventually dropped the super to Mountifield 11-9, but it was the best contested singles match of the day. On Sunday, Reid teamed with Cameron Hillier to take down the #2 team from Brandies, 8-4. In singles Carl stepped in for injured #1 Jason Ottomano and performed admirably. He dropped the 1st set to to Michael Arguello 4-6 before fighting back and winning the 2nd and 3rd sets 6-4, 6-3 respectively. Reid’s success is the silver lining in an otherwise disappointing weekend for the Mules.
What’s next: Colby will play 3 matches against in state opponents over the course of the following week, then head down to Hilton Head for their Spring Break trip.
Honorary Mention: Brantner Jones (Middlebury), Pierre Planche (Bates)
Hashtag of the week: #DropDemGavels, referring to Brandeis’ 6-3 win over Colby
WEST
Player: Warren Wood and Skyler Butts
Team: CMS
Results: both went 6-0 over Spring Break Walla Walla
Blurb: I know I’m cheating here, but how do you pick between these two? Butts was absolutely dominant at 3 doubles and 4 singles, never even sniffing a loss, while Wood went 6-0 against some of the best players in the region. Wood’s 7-6 third-set victory over Deuel was particularly impressive, as Deuel has been a 3-set master this year, and Wood’s team didn’t really need him to fight for it. Dorn would have been in the discussion, but he sat out a singles match like a scrub.
What’s next: The Stag-Hen should offer some even more stiff competition in the form of Emory, Wash U, Bowdoin, P-P, and CMU. Obviously, the Stags will only play two of those teams, but I don’t expect them to have much trouble with any of them.
Honorary Mention: Steven Roston (Whitman), Jordan Mayer (Trinity)
Hashtag of the week: #ForTheBoys. Trinity’s tweeting presence has been prolific, and it deserves some recognition.
If you were there you’d have given it to Dorne for his mustache alone.
Someday I’ll have a mustache as impressive as Dorn’s.