POTW: March 2nd-March 8th

NCAA MEN’S REGIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: March 2nd-March 8th

Hello again, boys and girls, and welcome to another fascinating installment of POTW. As you may have heard, we have the NCAA breathing down our virtual necks with regards to our Player of the Month t-shirts. Sorry winners, we’re trying to figure out a way to misplace the shirts at your doorstep. Even though the shirts are on hold, somehow the rest of the DIII tennis world continues to turn. We had a couple barnburners this weekend, and the 2015 spring break chronicles have officially begun. Some of the writers didn’t like my cartoon theme from last week. I thought about going with more generic theme, then I remembered that readers love me for who I am…but I digress. As you all know, I try to find a theme that is both topical, and helps you get to know your friendly neighborhood bloggers. Obviously, since the clocks officially sprung (sprang? sprong? sprieung?) forwards yesterday, the theme of this week’s POTW is cereal. Not following? Clocks, cuckoo clocks, cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Get on my level.

A-SOUTH

Players: Stratton Gilmore

Team: University of Mary Washington

Results: 2-2 in Doubles, 4-0 in Singles

Recap: Nice to get a Mary Washington player in this edition of POTW as the Eagles played four matches on their West Coast swing.  While Gilmore had a little bit of improvement needed in doubles, he ran through the West at #2 singles taking out PP, CLU, and Whittier.  He also played #3 against Redlands (somehow) and won that match as well.  Gilmore came up with a big doubles win in that match and was the only player to take two of his matches off of the Dawgs.  Gilmore has been a surprise so far this year and I hope to see him playing #2 singles moving forward.

What’s next: Mary Wash has some east coast matches against W&L, Swarthmore, and Bates during the next couple of weeks.

Honorary Mention: David Lunding-Johannson, Mary Washington

Cereal D3AS always wanted as a kid: Lucky Charms with only marshmallows.

Cereal D3AS eats now: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, criteria is that it has to be from the hours of 4AM-6AM on a weekend.

CENTRAL

Player: Davis Thrailkill

Team: Kenyon

Results: 2-0 in singles at #6

Recap: This was a pretty easy pick for me and since today’s results (loss to Trinity) are a new week. Big D as they call him gets the nod for the Central region as he bailed the Lords out of what would have been a pretty bad loss. Kenyon was on an extreme high heading to California with the 5th place finish at Indoors and giving Wash U all they could handle in the first round. No one really expected Cruz to give Kenyon much of a fight, but boy did they ever. The match came down to #6 singles and even went to a tiebreaker in the third which I am sure was pretty awesome to watch. Big D was down 2-4 in the breaker, but came back to win 5 out of the next 6 points to secure the 5-4 win for Kenyon.

What’s next: Well Kenyon fell to Trinity 8-1 today getting swept, but all six singles spots went three sets making for a cool box score. They take on Whittier before opening up Stag Hen with a rematch against Wash U.

Honorary Mention: Mohaned Al-Houni (GAC), Jake Humphreys (Whitewater), Owen Smith (Denison)

Cereal D3Central always wanted as a kid: Lucky Charms

Cereal D3Central eats now: Nature Valley granola bars

NE

Player(s): Kai Yuen Leung

Team: Skidmore

Results: 2-0 at #2 doubles (with Epstein) and 2-0 at #1 singles

Recap: Lil Lok Sze is doing everything he can to step out from his sister’s shadow. This week was a big step. Kai Yuen continued to show that his recent ascension to the top of the Thoroughbreds lineup is no fluke, knocking off Thangirala (NYU) and Grimes (RPI) without dropping a set. The sophomore also paired with Epstein to go 2-0 at #2 doubles, giving the Thoroughbreds a lead over NYU and avoiding the sweep vs. RPI. Leung play has improved vastly from last year. Perhaps the heartbreaking NCAA tournament match vs. Williams was all the kid needed to really get him going.

What’s next: The Thoroughbreds head West for their very own #SB15. The guys in green will take on Pomona, Amherst, and Cal Lu in a 4-day stretch from March 18th to March 21st.

Honorary Mention: Jonah Epstein (Skidmore), Matt Heinrich (Stevens), Danny Polk (Stevens) Note: I know Stevens is technically D3R’s turf, but after beating #27 Swat they may be headed for a higher number…

Cereal D3NE always wanted as a kid: Cocoa Puffs

Cereal D3NE eats now: Kix

WEST

Player: Jake Yasgoor

Team: Pomona-Pitzer

Results: 4-0 on the week including 2-0 in doubles in two 5-4 victories over Mary Wash and CMU, and a huge win at #2 over Heaney-Secord against the Tartans

Recap: Yaz has been looking near-unstoppable so far in this young season. He hasn’t played every match, but when he’s played, he’s won. His efforts were at their most valuable this week, as his doubles victory helped P-P edge Mary Washington (before questionably being pulled in singles), and his 2-0 effort against CMU sparked a major Pool C victory for the Hens. He’ll need to keep it up to make the selection committee forget that loss to Bates (where he also went 2-0).

What’s next: Absolutely pivotal week for the Hens, as they play at least two Pool C rivals in Bowdoin on Wednesday and then Case Western in the opening round of the Stag-Hen on Friday

Honorary Mention: Skyler Butts/Daniel Morkovine (CMS), Patrick Lipscomb (Redlands)

Cereal D3West always wanted as a kid: Captain Crunch

Cereal D3West eats now: Granola

REGIONAL

Player: Ryan Hickman

Team: Coe

Results: 2-1 in doubles including a big 6-0, 6-0 win over McMurry, 3-1 at #1 and #2 doubles including a dominating 8-2 win at 2 doubles over McMurry.

Recap: I’ve been ripping the Kohawks perceived lack of depth since my season preview, but Hickman’s big spring break trip so far along with Coe’s #5 (Chad Moklestad) and #6 (Alex Bernt) is helping my opinion of the Kohawks rise by the minute.  Hickman played great versus McMurry, in a tricky match that I actually picked McMurry to win.  Not only did Hickman win a big match at #2 doubles to help Coe take a 2-1 lead going into singles, but Hickman also dominated his singles opponent in an 0 and 0 victory at #4 singles (box score not yet out for this match, so I can’t confirm who Hickman’s singles opponent was).  Hickman is quietly having an excellent year at #4 singles, with a record of 8-2 in dual matches this spring, his only losses being against Chicago and d1 Valparaiso.  His record in doubles is 9-2, playing mostly #2 with Brady Anderson.

What’s next: Tomorrow, Coe takes on #20 UT-Tyler.  Tyler played McMurry earlier this year and narrowly defeated them, 5-4, while Coe just took them down 7-2.  This is a huge opportunity for the Kohawks and a chance for them to get their first ranked win in recent memory (and maybe ever?).

Honorary Mention: Felix Wee (Babson)

Cereal D3Regional always wanted as a kid: Reese’s Puffs with chocolate milk

Cereal D3Regional eats now: Honey Nut Cheerios with skim milk