Midway men’s tennis picks up first-ever victory

History was made on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Thomas R. Post Tennis Center as the Midway University men’s tennis team notched its first-ever victory in a 5-4 decision over Johnson (Tenn.). Before the match began, the Eagles were granted a 2-0 lead after the Royals only brought five players, forcing them to forfeit No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. The Eagles (1-1) won one of the remaining two doubles matches as the lead grew to 3-1 heading into the remaining five singles matches. Midway won at No. 1 and No. 2 singles to walk away with the 5-4 victory over the Royals. The junior duo of Hugo Retortillo and Jared Smith picked up a win at No. 1 doubles for the Eagles. Retortillo and Smith took down Matt Nordstorm and Carson Byington by a final score of 8-6. Then at No. 2 doubles, the freshman duo of Jacob Sergent and Jacob Franke fought hard until the bitter end, but fell to Michael Rhodenbaugh and Ethan Smith, 8-6. Midway moved to within one point of clinching the match after Hugo Retortillo won at No. 1 singles. The junior transfer blanked Matt Nordstorm in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Despite giving Midway the 2-0 lead to start the match, the Royals battled back to win at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 4 singles to tie the match at 4-4 creating a winner take all situation at No. 2 singles. At No. 2 singles, Jared Smith won the first set easily, 6-3, but the second set proved to be a back-and-forth-battle. Carson Byington forced a tiebreaker in the second set with it tied at 6-6, but Smith won the tiebreaker to win the set 7-6, clinching the first-ever program history. The Eagles will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 7, when they host Shawnee State (Ohio) at the Thomas R. Post Tennis Center starting at 1 p.m.