2008 Woodie Awards
Sessegemin proves most impressive Fox at West Point
Nate Fields
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Sports
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While many students return to campus in January with a fresh perspective, ready to start over, Marist's men's tennis team looked to pick up exactly where they left off in November; and they did just that. In just their first month of action, the Foxes dominated the field at the Army Winter Tournament, had a strong showing at the Harvard Invitational, and split their first two dual matches.
Marist opened the spring season by capturing four titles on Jan. 21 at West Point. Coach Tim Smith said his team's work ethic and dedication in the off-season was evident.
"Its obvious that most of our players trained and played over the break," he said. "This it the best results we've had in the Army tournament in the last five years."
All three doubles flight finals featured Marist teams, and the second flight tandem of senior Ray Josephs and junior Greg Marks downed Army's Charles Mullenger and Christ Albornoz, 8-4, for the victory.
Marist enjoyed success in singles action as well, winning titles in the second, third and fourth flights. Marks faced fellow Red Fox Loic Sessegemin in second flight singles, and fell to the Swiss freshman 6-2, 6-1. Josephs posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Binghamton's Alex Dobrin in third singles for his second title of the weekend. Perhaps the most exciting match of the day featured freshman Christian Coley matched with Colgate's Tyler Deck in fourth singles. Deck bested Coley 6-4 in the first set, but Coley fought back to win the second set 6-2 and took the third 10-7.
Smith gave a lot of credit to the Swiss freshman, Sessegemin, who is still getting acquainted to the US.
"I was most impressed with the play of Sessegemin," Smith said. "He'd only been in the country a week at that point. His work ethic and energy level was most impressive."
The Foxes were back in action the final weekend of January in the Harvard Intercession Invitational. Despite a tough start in which only one Marist player, Pedro Genovese, won their first round singles match, the Foxes finished strong in the back draw. Four Marist players reached the back draw semifinals, assuring a back draw title for the Foxes.
Both Marks and Sessegemin won their semifinal matches, defeating Josephs and Coley, respectively, to set up a rematch of the West Point second flight singles final. The two battled in both sets, with Sessegemin eventually prevailing again, 7-5, 6-4.
Marist opened its dual match season at Dartmouth last Saturday with a 6-1 defeat. The Foxes won two of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. The first doubles team of Genovese and classmate Federico Rolon defeated Dartmouth's Dave Waslen and Daniel Freeman 8-3, and Coley and Sessegemin downed Andy Kim and Dave Steinberg in third doubles, 8-3 as well.
The Foxes battled in singles action, forcing three sets in three of six matches, but failed to pick up a victory in any.
The team had no time to rest however, as they traveled to Long Island to take on Stony Brook on Sunday. The Foxes had much better results against the Seawolves, sweeping doubles and splitting the singles matches for a 5-3 victory.
Marist opened the spring season by capturing four titles on Jan. 21 at West Point. Coach Tim Smith said his team's work ethic and dedication in the off-season was evident.
"Its obvious that most of our players trained and played over the break," he said. "This it the best results we've had in the Army tournament in the last five years."
All three doubles flight finals featured Marist teams, and the second flight tandem of senior Ray Josephs and junior Greg Marks downed Army's Charles Mullenger and Christ Albornoz, 8-4, for the victory.
Marist enjoyed success in singles action as well, winning titles in the second, third and fourth flights. Marks faced fellow Red Fox Loic Sessegemin in second flight singles, and fell to the Swiss freshman 6-2, 6-1. Josephs posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Binghamton's Alex Dobrin in third singles for his second title of the weekend. Perhaps the most exciting match of the day featured freshman Christian Coley matched with Colgate's Tyler Deck in fourth singles. Deck bested Coley 6-4 in the first set, but Coley fought back to win the second set 6-2 and took the third 10-7.
Smith gave a lot of credit to the Swiss freshman, Sessegemin, who is still getting acquainted to the US.
"I was most impressed with the play of Sessegemin," Smith said. "He'd only been in the country a week at that point. His work ethic and energy level was most impressive."
The Foxes were back in action the final weekend of January in the Harvard Intercession Invitational. Despite a tough start in which only one Marist player, Pedro Genovese, won their first round singles match, the Foxes finished strong in the back draw. Four Marist players reached the back draw semifinals, assuring a back draw title for the Foxes.
Both Marks and Sessegemin won their semifinal matches, defeating Josephs and Coley, respectively, to set up a rematch of the West Point second flight singles final. The two battled in both sets, with Sessegemin eventually prevailing again, 7-5, 6-4.
Marist opened its dual match season at Dartmouth last Saturday with a 6-1 defeat. The Foxes won two of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. The first doubles team of Genovese and classmate Federico Rolon defeated Dartmouth's Dave Waslen and Daniel Freeman 8-3, and Coley and Sessegemin downed Andy Kim and Dave Steinberg in third doubles, 8-3 as well.
The Foxes battled in singles action, forcing three sets in three of six matches, but failed to pick up a victory in any.
The team had no time to rest however, as they traveled to Long Island to take on Stony Brook on Sunday. The Foxes had much better results against the Seawolves, sweeping doubles and splitting the singles matches for a 5-3 victory.
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