(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s tennis team closed out play in the NJCAA Region I Championships on Wednesday at the Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale.
For the fourth straight year, the Aztecs took home the runner-up plaque as they finished with a total of 11 points. Mesa Community College took first place with 16 points. All the championship matches were between Pima and Mesa Community College.
Freshman Mitchell Wilkinson (Catalina Foothills HS) won a thriller at No. 4 singles as he beat Emilio Alvarado in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to win the NJCAA Region I title.
The No. 3 doubles team of sophomore Landon Strickland and freshman Emanuel Robles-Serrano (Desert View HS) capture their crown via walkover win.
Robles-Serrano played a tough match at No. 6 singles and forced a tie-breaking third set but fell to Hung Pham 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Strickland dropped his No. 5 singles match to Duncan Mulega 6-2, 6-1.
Wilkinson and No. 2 doubles partner Anton Nazaroff (Catalina Foothills HS) lost in their finals match to Leandro Prado and Max Beasley 6-1, 6-3. Nazaroff almost forced a third set in his No. 2 singles match but fell to Prado 6-1, 6-4.
The No. 1 doubles duo of sophomore Corey Pabst and freshman Mason Lee (Catalina Foothills HS) dropped their No. 1 singles championship match 6-1, 6-1 to Beto Carlon and Cameron Khan. Pabst lost at No. 1 singles to Carlon 6-1, 6-1 and Lee could not overcome Khan at No. 3 singles as he lost 6-2, 6-1.
The Aztecs qualified for the NJCAA Division I National Championships on May 17-21 at Collin College in Plano, TX.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
