by Thomas Pitney
On Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17, the Wooster men’s tennis team opened their season in Gambier, Ohio, where they competed at the Kenyon Invitational. Although the invitational was non-scoring, it provided the team with an opportunity to see how they stack up against their rivals. Wooster embraced this challenge, with several Scots winning multiple matches over the weekend.
In the singles matches, returning players led the way for the Scots. Shivam Dewan ’24 won each of the two singles matches in which he competed. Dewan showed an impressive ability to come through in the clutch, as he won both sets in the one-game third set. Meanwhile, Walker Wood ’26 won two singles matches in dominant fashion, winning a total of 25 games to his opponents’ 11. Wood did not need a third set to win either match.
Truly encouraging for the Scots, however, was the emergence of the team’s first-year players in singles matches. Wooster’s first-year players are still adjusting to the higher level of competition in college. As Arnav Yadav ’27 put it, “college tennis demands a higher level of competition, discipline and time management.” Despite these challenges, Yadav and his first-year teammates found themselves winning singles matches.
Yadav, Jay Dixit ’27, Anthony VanOyen ’27, Bennett Dickerson ’27 and Max Stratford ’27 won a combined nine singles matches. In doing so, the first-year Scots overcame the adversity that accompanies a collegiate athletic debut. Dixit, who secured two singles match victories, said that he “had to work for every point.” He also discussed how he handled the ups-and-downs inherent in tennis matches, adding that “I always tried to maintain my intensity and temperament through the match.”
The Scots continued to pile up victories in the weekend’s doubles matches. In many ways, doubles matches can be a completely different challenge. Yadav insisted that “in doubles, understanding your partner’s strengths, along with effective communication on the court, can make a significant difference.” Once again, Wooster’s first-year players dominated, finding lots of success in doubles play, just as they had in singles matches.
Yadav teamed up with Dewan, creating a lethal combination. Not only did Yadav and Dewan win each of their two matches in just two sets, but they outscored their opponents by a combined 24 games to four games. The need for the doubles team to develop chemistry to succeed makes Yadav’s and Dewan’s performance all the more impressive. Yadav stated that building this connection this early in the season was only possible due to “our shared passion for the sport and commitment to supporting each other on the court.”
The first-year team of Dixit and VanOyen also rose to the occasion, winning two matches for Wooster. With two doubles victories and three singles victories, VanOyen won the most total matches on the team. Wood alongside Jack Bowers ’26 also contributed to the Scots’ doubles success, winning one match. Namit Misra ’26 and Patrick Johnson ’25 tacked on another doubles victory, bringing the Scots six doubles victories as a team.
Overall, the Scots’ strong performances will allow them to build confidence going into their remaining matches in the fall. Yadav felt that his impressive Wooster debut “boosted my confidence and reassured me that the hard work I’ve put into training and preparation has paid off.” Dixit was also encouraged by the team’s success, saying that “as a team, we had a good mindset going into the Kenyon Invitational.” Looking ahead, Dixit emphasized the importance of consistency throughout the season, asserting that “we must maintain that intensity through the spring to give us the best shot of performing well.” If the Kenyon Invitational was any indication, it appears as though the Wooster men’s tennis program has a bright future.
The Scots wrap up their fall season slate at the ITA Regional Tournament in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which will take place from Friday, Sept. 29 to Sunday, Oct. 1.