Sept. 27, 2010
Athens, Ga. – Georgia Tech All-American Guillermo Gomez defeated Georgia’s Javier Garrapiz, 6-3, 7-5, Monday morning to capture the Division I singles title at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships, and teammates Kevin King and Juan Spir fell in the doubles championship match at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
Gomez, a senior from Alicante, Spain, seeded No. 1 in this event and ranked fourth nationally, blew through the 64-player draw without losing a set.
“I worked very hard on my conditioning during the month prior to school starting, and I don’t have to worry about that part now,” said Gomez. “I’m just pushing every point 100 percent. I’m very happy to win this.”
Garrapiz, the No. 2 seed and ranked No. 14 nationally, was the only player to force the Tech senior to win seven games in a set. Gomez had defeated him in the Spanish Under-18 championships before he came to Tech, and also defeated Bulldog player in the teams’ dual match last spring.
The victory was his 91st at Georgia Tech, sixth this fall, moving him closer in his quest to overtake his head coach, Kenny Thorne, who holds the Institute career mark of 112.
King and Spir, the top-seeded doubles team this weekend and ranked 43rd nationally, were involved in a pair of thrillers in the semifinals and finals Monday. They won their semifinal match Monday morning, 9-8 (5), over Georgia’s Drake Bernstein and Wil Spencer, but couldn’t overcome another pair of Bulldogs in the finals. Garrapiz, avenging his singles loss to Gomez, teamed with Hernus Pieters to outlast the Tech duo, 9-8 (3).
“Overall this tournament was a good start. We earned a singles title and had a doubles team make the finals which is the best showing we have had since I’ve been coaching,” said Tech coach Kenny Thorne. “We are still a better team than we showed this weekend, and I anticipate that some other guys will step up in the next couple of tournaments. Guillermo played solid throughout the tournament and was physically and mentally very tough. I’m proud of the work he is putting in. Kevin had a good tournament considering it was his first tournament back since NCAAs last May. Juan had a win over a player he lost to twice last year so guys are improving.”
SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Monday, September 27, 2010
Georgia Tech Results
Division I Singles – Championship
#1 Guillermo Gomez d. #14 Javier Garrapiz, Georgia, 6-3, 7-5
Division I Doubles – Semifinals
#1 Juan Spir/Kevin King d. #6 Wil Spencer/Drake Bernstein, Georgia, 9-8 (5)
Division I Doubles – Championship
#4 Javier Garrapiz/Hernus Pieters, Georgia, d. #1 Juan Spir/Kevin King, 9-8 (3)
