Rintaro Goda playing at the 2025 Chargers Summer Invitational
Courtesy | The Hillsdale Athletic Department

The Hillsdale men’s tennis team had two players charge through to the consolation semifinals in singles at the ITA Midwest Regional in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sept. 27-29, while playing the best teams in the region.

Freshman Patrick Cretu advanced through the Flight B consolation bracket after a close loss in the opening round. Cretu beat his opponent from William Jewell College 7-5, 6-3, his opponent from Tiffin University 6-4, 6-3, and his opponent from Maryville University 6-2, 6-2 en route to the semifinal round. Cretu withdrew from his semifinal match due to injury. 

Freshman Jackson Clements dominated his opponent in the first round of Flight B, beating his opponent from Juan Pablo Espinosa from Roosevelt University. Clements said the match was an arduous duel, but he conquered his opponent with a 6-1, 6-0 victory. 

“The match was very intense,” Clements said. “Every point was super long and tiring.” 

In the second round, Clements lost a tight battle to his opponent from Grand Valley State University after forcing him into a third-set tiebreaker; the match had the final score of 1-6, 6-4, 7-10. 

Head coach Keith Turner said he was impressed with the performance of his freshmen. 

“Patrick picked up three wins and played by far the best I’ve seen him play so far,” Turner said. 

In the Flight B consolation bracket, sophomore Rintaro Goda advanced to the semifinal round. He beat opponents from the University of Indianapolis 6-2, 6-2 and the University of Illinois 6-4, 6-1 respectively before withdrawing from the semifinal because of injury. 

In their opening match in Flight B doubles, team Cretu and junior Henry Hammond won after a hard-fought match, ending in a tiebreak (9[10]-8[8]).

Sophomore Ryan Papazov lost in a close match in the first round of Flight A singles (4-6, 4-6) before a shoulder injury forced him to withdraw from his next match.

Despite the injury, Papazov said he and sophomore partner Sam Plys played well in their doubles matches, both of which they lost narrowly. 

“We didn’t quite get the results we wanted, but we had really good points and good play,” Papazov said. 

Although several players are contending with injury, the Chargers are pushing forward and remaining positive about upcoming matches, according to Papazov.

“We are picking up a few minor scratches and bumps along the way, but we look strong,” Papazov said. 

The Chargers will play Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, Oct. 4 for their final match of the fall season.