By Nick Moreano
The Iowa men’s tennis team (11-14) hosted its last three home matches of the season on April 15 and Sunday. The Hawkeyes started off with a loss to Purdue on April 15 and then split a two matches on Sunday against Indiana (9-14) and Chicago State (3-21).
Iowa started off playing outside, where the home team lost to the Boilermakers, 4-1.
The Boilermakers started by winning the double point. Hawkeye sophomores Lefteris Theodorou and Josh Silverstein lost, 6-4, and senior Dominic Patrick and sophomore Jake Jacoby lost, 6-3.
In the singles matches, only freshman Jonas Larsen came out with a victory, defeating Mateus Silva (6-4, 6-3).
After the Hawkeyes dropped that first match, they had to try to rebound Sunday against Indiana.
Just as in Friday’s matchup against Purdue, the Hawkeyes played on the Koltz Courts, lost the doubles point to the Hoosiers and lost to the match, 4-0.
Indiana’s Sam Monette and Daniel Bednarczyk defeated Theodorou and Jacoby (6-3). Then Indiana’s Chris Essick and Stefan Lugonjic defeated Silverstein and Patrick (6-4).
In singles the Hawkeyes were outplayed by the Hoosiers, starting off with Theodorou losing (6-3, 6-2). Then Silverstein lost (6-2, 6-1,), and Patrick went down (6-3, 6-1).
With the April 15 loss to Purdue and Sunday’s loss to Indiana, Iowa is now 1-8 in conference play.
Despite the Hawkeyes losing in their first match on Sunday, Patrick was honored on Senior Day after the match against the Hoosiers.
“It’s been a great journey to be a part of the program,” he said. “I love the Hawkeyes; the Hawkeye family has supported me forever, and it’s something I wouldn’t trade anything for.”
After the Senior Day activities, the Hawkeyes faced Chicago State. Patrick didn’t play in doubles, but he knew what he wanted to see from his teammates.
“We just want to see positive energy in our guys, doing what they would be doing against any team that we played all year,” he said. “I think its important that we come out with high energy, moving our feet, and playing aggressive. Just take care of business.”
That is exactly what the Hawkeyes did with Jacoby and Larsen winning their first match in doubles (6-1) and junior Nils Hallestrand and Theodorou winning (6-2).
Each Hawkeye won in his singles match, and Patrick was the last one to win. As Sun set, his teammates and coaches, along with Patrick’s mother and grandparents, watched as Patrick won his last home match of his Hawkeye career (7-6, 6-4).
The win gives Patrick his 62nd career singles win, putting him tied for 10th all-time in school history.