WINONA LAKE, Ind. - The back-to-back NCCAA national champion men's tennis team from Grace enters the 2022-23 campaign with high hopes.
Over the past two seasons, the Lancers have racked up an impressive 18 wins against conference opponents during the regular season and postseason tournaments. Grace advanced to the conference tournament final both years, ending last year receiving votes in the final NAIA Top 25 poll.
Coach Andy Lewis's squad returns nine members from a year ago with four newcomers joining the ranks. This year's team is led by an experienced group of upperclassmen, consisting of four seniors and three juniors.
"If we stay healthy and play together as a team, we are going to be hard to beat," said Lewis. "We ended the spring on a high note and are excited for the fall."
With the departure of stalwarts Max Rozas and Fabricio Galvan, the Lancers will look to captains David Sandi and Ivan Antinori to set the tone. Veteran all-league performer Ramiro Candia, Facundo Paredes, Francisco Margaria and company will help solidify the singles lineup.
The senior class, in addition to workhorses Sandi, Candia and Margaria, includes Kye Barrett, who has posted a 14-0 record at No. 6 singles and a 9-0 record in doubles play during his career. Sandi, with a 35-32 career record, has been a staple at No. 2 singles in the lineup. Candia, an all-league honoree in 2020-21, leads the group with 73 career wins, holding down No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles a year ago.
Juniors include Antinori, Nicolas Doria and Javier Gallego. After sitting out the entirety of last year, transfer Gallego will make his much-anticipated Lancer debut after an impressive freshman season at No.1 singles for Goshen College in 2020-21. Doria, 15-14 overall, made an impact holding serve at No. 5 singles. Antinori has been a doubles' specialist his first two seasons on campus, boasting a 32-13 record in that time.
"I believe doubles play is an area we will excel in this year," said Lewis. "We made great strides during the spring season. We made some adjustments and found good chemistry and consistency to close out the year. Finding the right combinations with our pairings early on will be key as we move through the conference schedule."
A pair of sophomores will figure into the mix. Paredes went 11-5 in singles and 11-7 in doubles play. Pablo Gregori adds depth after breaking into the rotation during the spring season.
Four incoming freshmen are primed to reload the Lancers' lineup. Artur Pons comes to Winona Lake from Alberic, Spain, and Cesar Garcia hails from Maturin, Venezuela. Joining them is Landon Gibson from Evansville, Ind., and Gabe Jarvis from Zeeland, Mich.
The season opens up at home on Sept. 3 with a Crossroads League doubleheader at the Don Cramer Tennis Courts.
The first match of the season is a marquee matchup and rematch of the Crossroads League tournament finals against Indiana Wesleyan. Grace will host a second doubleheader on Sept. 7 before battling in the league tournament starting Sept. 20.
"I look forward to seeing what these young men can accomplish this season," added Lewis. "We are looking forward to the challenge."
