2008 Woodie Awards
Two Cougars finish second at Bud Simpson Open
Five SIUE?tennis players take part in annual summer tournament
Josh McCarty
Issue date: 7/2/08 Section: Sports
A strong contingent of Cougars took part in the 26th annual Bud Simpson Open over the weekend at Gordon Moore Park's Simpson Tennis Center in Alton. In total, five SIUE tennis players took part in the event, with each winning their opening round match.
SIUE freshmen Paulo Gonzalez and Carli Connors both made it to the finals of their respective brackets before falling to defeat.
Gonzalez, the No. 1 seed of the men's bracket, won three matches before losing to No. 2 seed and Drury University alum, Jalel Chafai, in straight sets.
"It was good to play (Chafai) and see that I can be there with them at any time," Gonzalez said. "I need to be better fitness wise and get a little bit bigger at the gym. That will make me play with less effort."
Connors was the only unranked player to make it to the finals during the open, as she won four matches en route to the finals before falling to defending champion Lindsay Smith of St. Louis.
"I had never played an adult open before," Connors said. "I kind of ran out of gas. I was really excited to make it to the finals."
SIUE sophomore Kelsay Laird made it to the quarterfinals where she was set to play her SIUE sophomore teammate Stephanie Clark, but had to default the match to attend a wedding. In the semi-finals, Clark fell to the eventual winner, Smith.
SIUE junior Jordan Faulkenberg and sophomore Amanda Niebur both lost their second matches, which by tournament rules eliminated them from consolation play. Faulkenberg said while it would have been nice to win, his primary goal was to improve.
"That's why we play in the summertime," Faulkenberg said. "We get to play against better competition. We're not so concerned about the results. We just want to get better. "
Faulkenberg did team with his brother Devan, a 2008-09 SIUE tennis hopeful, in mixed doubles, and made it to the finals in the consolation bracket.
While this type of tournament is for the individual, Gonzalez said it was advantageous to have SIUE represented so well over the weekend.
"It was great to see the boys and the girls out there," Gonzalez said. "I think I'm having more fun with playing for a team than just playing for myself. You are out there playing for a bigger purpose."
Making it to the finals was not a reason for celebration, according to Gonzalez, who said he knows there is much more work to be done.
"That tournament was what I needed to start training," Gonzalez said. "Knowing that I can hang in there with very good players at any time is really good for my confidence and for my coach's confidence in me. Now, it's on."
SIUE freshmen Paulo Gonzalez and Carli Connors both made it to the finals of their respective brackets before falling to defeat.
Gonzalez, the No. 1 seed of the men's bracket, won three matches before losing to No. 2 seed and Drury University alum, Jalel Chafai, in straight sets.
"It was good to play (Chafai) and see that I can be there with them at any time," Gonzalez said. "I need to be better fitness wise and get a little bit bigger at the gym. That will make me play with less effort."
Connors was the only unranked player to make it to the finals during the open, as she won four matches en route to the finals before falling to defending champion Lindsay Smith of St. Louis.
"I had never played an adult open before," Connors said. "I kind of ran out of gas. I was really excited to make it to the finals."
SIUE sophomore Kelsay Laird made it to the quarterfinals where she was set to play her SIUE sophomore teammate Stephanie Clark, but had to default the match to attend a wedding. In the semi-finals, Clark fell to the eventual winner, Smith.
SIUE junior Jordan Faulkenberg and sophomore Amanda Niebur both lost their second matches, which by tournament rules eliminated them from consolation play. Faulkenberg said while it would have been nice to win, his primary goal was to improve.
"That's why we play in the summertime," Faulkenberg said. "We get to play against better competition. We're not so concerned about the results. We just want to get better. "
Faulkenberg did team with his brother Devan, a 2008-09 SIUE tennis hopeful, in mixed doubles, and made it to the finals in the consolation bracket.
While this type of tournament is for the individual, Gonzalez said it was advantageous to have SIUE represented so well over the weekend.
"It was great to see the boys and the girls out there," Gonzalez said. "I think I'm having more fun with playing for a team than just playing for myself. You are out there playing for a bigger purpose."
Making it to the finals was not a reason for celebration, according to Gonzalez, who said he knows there is much more work to be done.
"That tournament was what I needed to start training," Gonzalez said. "Knowing that I can hang in there with very good players at any time is really good for my confidence and for my coach's confidence in me. Now, it's on."
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