Bulldogs Battle in Norman at ITA Central Regional Championships

NORMAN, Okla. – The Drake males’s tennis group continued its fall season with a aggressive displaying on the 2025 ITA Division I Men’s Central Regional Championships, hosted by the University of Oklahoma in Norman. The Bulldogs demonstrated depth and resilience all through the occasion, with practically each participant recording at the very least one match victory. Three of the six Bulldogs additionally certified into the primary draw.

Six Bulldogs entered regional play, with three advancing via qualifying into the primary draw. Senior Christian Winstead and sophomore Jose Alessandro Hernandez joined the sphere as direct entrants.

Junior Ben Johnson led the best way for Drake with a powerful match efficiency. The Eleventh-seeded Johnson obtained a first-round bye earlier than cruising previous Omaha’s Anthony Scheglowski, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the Round of 16.

Freshman Ulysse Verrando additionally made a robust impression in his regional debut. He opened with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Oral Roberts’ Cristian Pensavalle, then battled previous North Dakota’s Walker Valentine in a three-set thriller, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, to achieve the Round of 16.

Junior Alan Gonzalez, the No. 2 seed in his part, added one other spotlight for the Bulldogs. After receiving a first-round bye, he defeated Memphis’ Lasse Rensing 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 to earn his spot within the Round of 16, the place he’s slated to face Omaha’s Christian Trevey.

Elsewhere within the draw, freshman Max Goldemberg rallied from a set all the way down to edge Creighton’s Mathis Dahler, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (10-8). Sophomore Adan Tarquino additionally collected an opening-round win, defeating Oral Roberts’ Halston Redwine, 6-3, 6-2, earlier than falling in a aggressive three-set match to Tulsa’s Connor Thomas Doig.

Freshman Arin Menon obtained a bye into the Round of 32 however was edged out by Omaha’s Pavan Uppu, 1-6, 4-6. Fellow freshman Alex Yeager dropped his Round-of-64 match to Oral Roberts’ Rodrigo Guijarro Martin, 4-6, 3-6, whereas Francisco Landeras fell to North Dakota’s Christos Alex, 6-3, 6-1.

The Bulldogs produced a number of predominant draw victories and a number of other sturdy performances all through the weekend. Johnson and Verrando each highlighted Drake’s presence deep into the draw, whereas the group’s collective success showcased this system’s rising depth heading into the remainder of the autumn season.