by Brandon Thompson
The Aggie men’s tennis team played in the Midwestern State University Tournament Sept. 23-24. The Aggies’ trip to Wichita Falls ended in success.
Head coach James Helvey said that he was pleased with the performance of the Aggies this weekend. Helvey said that his doubles team won the tournament against some stiff competition.
“The tournament went good,” Helvey said. “My number 1 doubles team won the whole thing.”
The Aggies doubles team consisted of junior Duje Janjic and senior Thomas Peixoto. The team faced-off against Midwestern State in the finals.
According to Helvey, the Aggie men won the doubles match in a dominant fashion. The Aggies rallied to take the match against Midwestern State.
“Thomas Peixoto and Duje Janjic played Midwestern’s team,” Helvey said. “We won that 8-4.”
Helvey said that the doubles win was a good accomplishment for his double’s team due to the competition that attended the tournament.
“My top doubles team won the tournament beating out Midwestern players, East Central players and some of the top junior college teams in the country,” Helvey said.
The single’s side of the tournament proved to be successful for the Aggies as well. The top singles player for the Aggies finished second.
Helvey said that he was pleased with how the top players on his team were playing so far this season. He said he is confident in their ability to continue to play well throughout the remainder of the year despite their youth.
The Aggies are a young team and the early success of the team could boost the confidence of the players and help them as they head towards Nationals.
Helvey said that he thought they played in one of the toughest conferences in the nation and that the high level of competition is good for his young team. He said that his team has handled the pressure well so far.
“We have one of the toughest regions in the country; you have got to get up and go quick or you will get run over,” Helvey said. “I have two freshmen that are stepping up really well.”
Helvey said that this team was still trying to figure out what they are really about. He said that the matches they have played this season have begun to give the team their own unique identity.
“They are trying to carve out their own identity,” Helvey said. “I got some new faces and I am pleased to see what I have been seeing.”
According to Helvey, the team’s success in the tournament has set them up for the regional tournament.
“It sets them up pretty good going into this next week,” Helvey said.
Helvey said that the Aggie men are a hardworking group and that he could not ask for a better team to coach.
“I have a good team, good people and great attitudes,” Helvey said. “It is all I could ever ask for.”