Is the NW Men’s Tennis team done for? This question has come up among students and faculty at NW as rumors about the men’s tennis team being done for the season and possibly forever have swirled. Concerns about implications this could have for title IX policies, donors, and more have come up as well. This fear started with the information coming out that due to some student athletes leaving at semester, the men’s tennis team no longer has a large enough roster to compete for the rest of the season. However, this, as rumors often do, spiraled out into fears that the team may be axed from the lineup of NW sports.
Director of Tennis operations Maurie Tomke set the record straight when asked for comment. Tomke said, “At this time, we still have a men’s tennis team. However, due to the current number of student athletes on the team (2 players), we are unable to play this Spring season”.
Additionally, NW made a public announcement on January 21, stating that the men’s tennis spring season was cancelled due to “limited roster numbers”. The press release went on to explain that the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rules require at least four players for a full team when competing in dual matches. The announcement also clarified that the women’s season is unaffected.
The rumors surrounding this make the issue at hand seem much more daunting than it is. It appears that this problem will be easy to solve and will not have a lasting effect, as there will likely be incoming freshmen to fill out the roster next semester.
Before the start of the spring semester and cancellation of the year’s remaining games, the men’s tennis team had a record of 2-2, with wins against Mount Marty and Baker University.
The women’s team will continue as usual with games slated to start on February 6. The team hopes to continue a great season, with a 5-1 record heading into their next game against the Martin Luther College Knights in Owatonna, Minnesota.
