Edmunds and Waldron Shine at Dartmouth

Author: Sean Breen

This year's fall men's tennis season came to a close with an impressive performance by two of it's rising stars. Nathan Edmunds '06 and Brian Waldron '06 were both invited to this past weekend's Dartmouth Invitational. The top New England Division I tennis teams were all there: Brown, Harvard, Dartmouth, Hartford, New Hampshire, Assumption College and Middlebury's two lone rangers.

"It's definitely the toughest competition we face all year," commented Edmunds as he left for Dartmouth on Friday, Oct. 24. The rest of the men's tennis team had fall break off, but both Waldron and Edmunds continued to practice diligently in preparation for this past weekend's event. Edmunds went home to Michigan and hit the courts everyday. "I knew I would have to be really sharp if I wanted to compete," said Edmunds.

Brain Waldron was thrust into the top level of competition and competed in the "A" Flight. He was matched with David Waslen, a talented young freshmen out of Dartmouth. Waldron played extremely well throughout the match to really put pressure on the Dartmouth freshman, but fell in the end to Waslen 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.

Edmunds was placed into the "B" Flight of competition where he faced Clint Broadie of Harvard in the first round. Edmunds slipped into his routine and easily defeated Broadie 6-4, 6-1. "I knew the top players from Harvard, Brown and Dartmouth were not playing," commented Edmunds after the match., "My confidence was really running high. I knew I could play [with the field]." Next, Edmunds rolled over Dartmouth's own John Bois 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the semi-finals where Max Tedaldi from Harvard awaited. Again, Edmunds won in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. In his march to the finals, Edmunds only lost 11 games, with five of those coming in the first round. In the finals, however, Edmunds' run was brought to a halt. Caleb Gardner from Harvard took the "B" Flight title over Edmunds winning 6-3, 7-5.

In the doubles competition, Edmunds and Waldron paired up to face Brent Saiontz and Scott Deneberg, again out of Harvard. It was a close match, but Saiontz/Deneberg pulled out the victory 9-8. "We had some chances," said Edmunds a little upset after the match. "We probably should have pulled it out."

Nevertheless, in a field of Division I athletes, Middlebury faired very well. Edmunds' trip to the finals shows the young talent that exists on the Middlebury Squad. Waldron also put up a good fight, but the "A" class proved too polished. Still, these two sophomores made a point in just being invited to the prestigious event, and for Edmunds especially, his performance spoke for itself.

Edmunds and Waldron refuse to be intimidated by the higher level of competition and never doubted their ability to compete. "I think it brings out the best in you," explained Edmunds when asked about the talented field of players. This year's tennis season has now come to a close. The men's tennis team will be off until February when it will begin practices in the Kenyon Field House. Still, the competitive drive of the players will not falter. Even with the overwhelming success the team has produced this year, the players are not satisfied. "I think we should be pleased with the fall, but I don't think anyone is content with where we're at... we still have a lot of work to do to get where we want to be in the spring," remarked Edmunds. The team does not view the season in two parts, and the season is not over until the NCAA national tournament in the spring. Edmunds and the rest of the team will not be satisfied until they stand on top of the leader board when the spring comes to a close. "I think we can use a lot of the positive aspects of this fall to carry us through the winter and into the spring," explained Edmunds. "We have the talent to be great."