By:
Jake Timm (
@GBJakeT)
MADISON, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay Phoenix men's tennis team accomplished another program first Saturday, defeating Wisconsin 4-1 on the road. It's the first time Green Bay (10-4) has beaten the Badgers in program history.
After dropping the doubles point, Green Bay regained the momentum and rattled off four straight wins in singles play to win the match.
Freshman Florian Kraenzler (Puchheim, Germany) got the Phoenix off on the right foot when he secured a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 4 singles, tying the match at 1-1.
“Florian was down 5-2 in the second set, but came back to win. That's the first time a Green Bay tennis player has beaten [Wisconsin's] Jakhongir Jalalov,” said head coach Mark Thomas.
Sophomore Joshua Schramm (Brunsbuttel, Germany) gave Green Bay the lead at No. 5 singles when his opponent retired in the third set with Schramm leading 3-1. Junior Joey Leto (Downers Grove, Ill.) then secured the point at No. 6 singles with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. Leto was one of four Green Bay singles players who pushed his match to a third set.
With an historic win in its grasp, the Phoenix clinched victory when No. 2 singles player Leopold Gomez Islinger (Weiden, Germany) won his third set 6-3.
“The end was extremely exciting,” said Thomas. “This is a big win for the program, and to beat a Big Ten opponent is huge.”
Green Bay was 0-7 all-time against Wisconsin (2-10) before Saturday's win.
“We're very excited, we're achieving our goals,” said Thomas. “We are keeping a level head though, because the conference tournament is what we're focused on, but to be the number one team in Wisconsin is something to be proud of.”
Green Bay also beat Marquette for the first time in program history earlier this season.
The Phoenix will continue its 10-match road swing when it travels to California for a pair of matches later this month. Green Bay will play at Fresno State on Tuesday March, 17, and will then travel to take on No. 72 University of California-Irvine on Saturday, March 21.
“It will be nice to get some outside tennis in,” said Thomas. “Fresno State and UC-Irvine are at a similar level, so we'll have to play our best. This will help us prepare for the conference season.”
Green Bay 4 – Wisconsin 1
Singles
No. 1 (94)Michael Tenzer (GB) vs. Josef Dodridge (WIS) 6-4, 6-6 (DNF)
No. 2 Leopold Gomez Islinger (GB) def. Alexander Kokorev (WIS) 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3
No. 3 Howard Scott (GB) vs. Lamar Remy (WIS) 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 1-3 (DNF)
No. 4 Florian Kraenzler (GB) def. Jakhongir Jalalov (WIS) 6-4, 7-5
No. 5 Joshua Schramm (GB) def. Tomas Pitra (WIS) 7-5, 5-7, 3-1 (retired)
No. 6 Joey Leto (GB) def. Darius Mackenzie (WIS) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
Doubles
No. 1 Tenzer/Michael Tebon (GB) vs. Jalalov/Kokorev (WIS) 2-5 (DNF)
No. 2 Carranza/Dodridge (WIS) def. Leto/Scott (GB) 6-1
No. 3 Remy/Pitra (WIS) def. Kraenzler/Islinger (GB) 6-2
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