As the men’s tennis team looks forward to the upcoming season, it was seasons gone by that were the focus of the Wildcats’ matches Saturday.
The men’s team took on past Baker University tennis players in the annual alumni match at the Overland Park Racquet Club.
“It was one of the best,” head coach Regan Dodd said. “We had 12 alumni there, ranging from those who played in the ’80s to alumni that played for me. We’re lucky to have a lot of good alumni tennis players in the Kansas City areas.”
Senior Joe Ahmadian said it was a good experience to get out of the routine of playing fellow teammates.
“It was a good time. It was a good chance to get some match play before the season starts,” Ahmadian said. “I knew most of them from past years, but it’s also nice to meet new people.”
Dodd said both sides played well.
“Baker did really well, but the alumni won some matches, as well,” she said.
Dodd said the event serves multiple purposes, including an opportunity to play and as a fundraiser to pay for a spring break trip to California during which both teams will play several duals with high-ranked schools to prepare for conference rivals.
Conference play will pose some challenges for both teams, Dodd said. Both teams received votes but missed the top-25 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics rankings by two places.
Dodd said it’s unusual for one school to have two teams at the No. 27 position nationally.
“The thing that’s amazing about our school is we compete with both men’s and women’s. Every year, both teams compete within the top mix, which I think is partly due to the seniors I have this year,” Dodd said.
For the men, top conference competitors will be No. 11 Benedictine College and No. 13 Graceland University, Dodd said. For the women, No. 24 William Jewell College and unranked Lindenwood University could pose some problems.
The women’s team will look to senior Marti Eidson for guidance along with seniors Ashley Hutchison and Taylor McKinley, who has a year of eligibility remaining but may graduate in December. In her last season at Baker, Eidson is the only nationally ranked Wildcat at No. 50.
“I think we have one of the most talented teams since I have been here,” Eidson said. “We have nine players who are working hard and could beat anyone on any given day. If we all come together as a team and are on the same page, we will win conference because of our depth and talent.”
On the men’s side, four seniors – Ahmadian, Michael Cation, Jose Mota and Martin Renteria – will lead the way.
“I think that experience will help us,” Ahmadian said. “The seniors have played a lot more matches than players of the other top teams in our region.”
Both teams start the official spring season March 3 with a home dual against Tabor College.