#1 North Central 5, #2 Carthage 4
WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carthage men's tennis team competed in the championship round of the CCIW Men's Tennis Tournament against the North Central Cardinals on Saturday morning. After falling behind quickly in doubles play, the Firebirds battled back to tie the match, before ultimately falling to the Cardinals.

Prior to the match, Luca Okino was recognized as a recipient of the CCIW Elite 26 award. Modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 program, the CCIW Elite 26 is presented to the student-athlete who excels academically and athletically at the conference level in each of the CCIW's 26 sponsored sports. 
To be eligible for the Elite 26 Award, a student-athlete must be a sophomore, junior, or senior and in at least their second season of competition with their current team. Graduate students are not eligible. For sports that compete in a conference tournament, the student-athlete with the highest GPA from the first or second place team in the conference tournament will receive the award.

 

In doubles play, Elios Briand and Myles Krzewinski fell to Wyatt Crowll and Guillermo Gonzalez Fernandez 8-4. Cooper Ferruzzi and Francisco Silveira were defeated 8-6 by Matt Sengphommachanh and Ramon Vilarroig Martinez. Diego Silva and Okino were defeated by Daniel Estanislao and Rafael Lessa 8-3.

In singles play, Silveira fell in a tightly contested 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), (6-1) battle with Vilarroig Martinez. Krzewinski defeated Sengphommachanh 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Briand defeated Penados with a pair of 6-2 victories. Silva fell to Crowell 6-4, 6-2. Ferruzzi defeated Lessa 6-2, 6-4. Okino won by forfeit over Estanislao.


 
The Firebirds will return to action on May 10 as the team competes in the NCAA Division III Central Regional. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.