ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Men's Tennis team couldn't have picked a better weather day to honor its three graduating players than Wednesday, and the team came up big for its seniors when it was all said and done.
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool),
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) and
Eli Henderson (Andover, Minn/Andover) were all recognized in a pre-match ceremony by head coach
Matt Swigart. Northwestern defended its home court with a thrilling 5-4 win over Macalester College under sunny skies in its second match in as many days.
Macalester drew first blood with an 8-2 win at #3 doubles over
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Ben Schutz (Maplewood, Minn./Homeschool). The Eagles responded; however, winning the final two doubles matches.
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) were outstanding in an 8-3 win in the #2 match, then
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) held serve at #1 doubles via an 8-6 victory.
The Eagles led 2-1 entering singles matches, but there was still work left to be done. The Scots tied the match after
Ben Schutz (Maplewood, Minn./Homeschool) lost 2-6, 2-6 at #6 singles, but Weddle got one back at #2 with a 6-3, 6-2 win. Rupp lost 2-6, 4-6 at #5 singles to once again even the score, then Morrell lost just his fourth #1 singles match of the season, 6-7 (5-7), 0-6. Suddenly, Macalester was on the brink of victory, needing to win just one of the remaining two matches in play to seal the team win. A pair of underclassmen rose to the occasion for UNW, however. Haack, a freshman, won 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 at #3 singles, meaning the #4 match was for all the marbles. Jarchow, a sophomore, delivered his team a thrilling victory, winning the match 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 10-6. The 5-4 win gave UNW its 17
th win of the season, which is third most in program history. The 2021 and 2022 teams each won 20 matches to top the list.
The old saying "no rest for the weary" certainly applies to the Eagles, as they will be right back at it Thursday for their third match in as many days. It will be the final home match of the 2024 season so make sure to stop by and support the team as they take on St. John's University at 3:00 PM. The match was originally scheduled for 4:00 PM but will now be played an hour earlier.
