CORNERSTONE MEN'S TENNIS 2020-21 SEASON PREVIEW

After 182 days of no sports at Cornerstone, the Golden Eagles men's tennis team are excited to be one of the first to return to action as they will host Olivet College at NorthPointe Christian High School on Saturday, September 5 at 2 p.m. The now veteran Golden Eagle roster will look to open their season on a good note after the 2019-20 season was cut short going 5-5 overall. The match will be live streamed at cugoldeneagles.com/watch as seen below. 

Austin Hendrick is in his third season as the men's tennis coach after jumping straight into coaching once he completed his tennis career here at Cornerstone. Austin holds a 16-15 record in his first two seasons as head coach and led the team to a WHAC Tournament berth in his only opportunity to do so in the spring of 2019. 

2020-21 SENIOR MEN'S TENNIS CLASS

The Golden Eagles men's tennis team has four seniors this season and is powered by the leadership of John Cocoma and Aliaksei Kanstantsinau. The two combined for 27 wins in the 2019-20 season to rank first and second on the team last year. Both athletes also have already etched their name into the Golden Eagle record books ranking in the top 10 in program history in both doubles and singles career wins. Kanstantsinau ranks seventh all-time with 52 total wins, while Cocoma ranks ninth with 47 as both are looking to catch their Head Coach Austin Hendrick who is the Golden Eagle all-time leader with 119 total wins. 

NEW FACES

Head Coach Austin Hendrick is excited to bring in five freshmen to the program in Miles Droski (Left), Domonic Giandiletti (center), Zachary Kooyer (right), Jose Oliva (not pictured), Alejandro Santana (not pictured). NOTE - With international restrictions due to COVID-19 Oliva and Santana will be joining the program once cleared. 

SPRING RETURN

Columbia native Mateo Jimenez who has been a crucial piece to the Golden Eagle men's tennis program will return in the spring of 2021 as he is remaining in his home country due to COVID-19 restrictions for the fall season. Jimenez has a combined 40 wins in two seasons with Cornerstone, going 4-5 in singles play and 6-4 in doubles play in the shortened 2019-20 season. He played all of his matches at either the number one or number two seeded spots last year. 

FIRST MEETING IN PROGRAM HISTORY

Cornerstone and Olivet College have never met before in men's tennis. Before the early end to the season in 2019-20, the Comets went 1-6 with their lone win against fellow WHAC school Concordia University.