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Rain forces Collin College to alter schedule
By Kevin Hageland, Staff Writer
As head coach of the nationally ranked, and National Junior College Athletic Association Men’s Tournament host, Collin College squad, this is always a busy time of year for Marty Berryman.
But the rain this week has run amok of the tournament schedule and has Berryman’s cell phone ringing about as often as he takes a breath.
“Yeah, my phone has been going crazy,” Berryman said. “We’ve been doing this for seven years and we always get rain in May, but we’ve never been impacted like this.”
Rain forced a short session Monday, a complete cancellation of the matches scheduled for Tuesday and a lengthy delay on Wednesday.
“This is the highlight of our year, so it’s obvious how anxious these kids are to get out there,” Berryman said. “We had a coaches meeting Tuesday, but the kids were just climbing the walls.”
The National Tournament has drawn teams from all across the country, and weather delay or no; the event must be completed by Friday as each squad is booked to return home. That means players having to take on two matches a day as opposed to the requisite one, as well as adding High Point Tennis Center as a venue.
“The one benefit is that it has been pretty cool here for this time of year,” Berryman said. “But with the level of tennis being so high in some of these flights, physical and mental endurance is a huge factor. It’s all about will and us coaches keep telling the guys that.”
One of those coaches is Josh Cobble, who in his first year at Cowley College (located in Arkansas City, Kan.) has led the Tigers to the National Tournament.
“It’s a tough schedule now, but I think some of our guys enjoyed the extra nap time Tuesday, “said Cobble, who also played at Cowley for two years. “But we are in the same position as everyone else; it’s going to come down to conditioning.”
And while everyone may be in the same boat in terms of needing strong conditioning this week, Collin College does have one distinct advantage.
“We practice and play here, so we’re used to the heat and humidity,” said Marius Tangen, Collin College sophomore and No. 2 singles player. “Plus we have our apartments here, so we don’t have to be squeezed into some stinky hotel.”
That type of home-court advantage is something the team has been anticipating for months.
“We sat in the bleachers in April and I pointed West,” Berryman said. “I told the guys one of the biggest advantages we have is getting to sleep in our beds each night.
“Some team flew in here and others had to drive as many as 16 hours to get here. All my guys have to do each morning is get up and take a shower.”
Collin College will take any advantage it can get as the Cougars may not be favorites, but they are serious contenders for their first NJCAA National Title since 1995. Collin College and Vincennes University (located in Vincennes, Ind.) are the No. 3 and 4 teams in the country, while Laredo Community College and Tyler Junior College are No. 1 and 2, respectively.
“[Laredo and Tyler] are probably a level above everyone else,” Berryman said. “We’re a little bit of a darkhorse, but we’ve got the personnel. And because of the unique format of this tournament, if someone gets knocked off we’ve definitely got a shot.”
At 20-3 this season, Collin College has compiled the program’s best winning percentage. But Berryman cautions it will still take the combined effort of the six singles players and three doubles teams to win a title. That type of spirit was on display by Tangen Wednesday afternoon as he tried to fire up Manuel Mendoza Carette, Collin College’s No. 1 singles player, shortly after Tangen won his second round match, 6-2, 6-0.
“It’s always good to win any event, especially one that is taking place on your home court,” Tangen said. “There is some pressure with playing at home, but once you get past that first round its easier to loosen up and focus on winning.”
Despite playing on campus, spotty attendance has kept the Cougars’ home-court advantage from being overly imposing.
“People go to theater shows and other events on campus, so why not come watch tennis,” Tangen said. “We aren’t just playing for the coaches and ourselves, we are playing for our school.”
Play is scheduled to resume at Collin College’s Spring Creek Campus and High Point today at 8 a.m.
But the rain this week has run amok of the tournament schedule and has Berryman’s cell phone ringing about as often as he takes a breath.
“Yeah, my phone has been going crazy,” Berryman said. “We’ve been doing this for seven years and we always get rain in May, but we’ve never been impacted like this.”
Rain forced a short session Monday, a complete cancellation of the matches scheduled for Tuesday and a lengthy delay on Wednesday.
“This is the highlight of our year, so it’s obvious how anxious these kids are to get out there,” Berryman said. “We had a coaches meeting Tuesday, but the kids were just climbing the walls.”
The National Tournament has drawn teams from all across the country, and weather delay or no; the event must be completed by Friday as each squad is booked to return home. That means players having to take on two matches a day as opposed to the requisite one, as well as adding High Point Tennis Center as a venue.
“The one benefit is that it has been pretty cool here for this time of year,” Berryman said. “But with the level of tennis being so high in some of these flights, physical and mental endurance is a huge factor. It’s all about will and us coaches keep telling the guys that.”
One of those coaches is Josh Cobble, who in his first year at Cowley College (located in Arkansas City, Kan.) has led the Tigers to the National Tournament.
“It’s a tough schedule now, but I think some of our guys enjoyed the extra nap time Tuesday, “said Cobble, who also played at Cowley for two years. “But we are in the same position as everyone else; it’s going to come down to conditioning.”
And while everyone may be in the same boat in terms of needing strong conditioning this week, Collin College does have one distinct advantage.
“We practice and play here, so we’re used to the heat and humidity,” said Marius Tangen, Collin College sophomore and No. 2 singles player. “Plus we have our apartments here, so we don’t have to be squeezed into some stinky hotel.”
That type of home-court advantage is something the team has been anticipating for months.
“We sat in the bleachers in April and I pointed West,” Berryman said. “I told the guys one of the biggest advantages we have is getting to sleep in our beds each night.
“Some team flew in here and others had to drive as many as 16 hours to get here. All my guys have to do each morning is get up and take a shower.”
Collin College will take any advantage it can get as the Cougars may not be favorites, but they are serious contenders for their first NJCAA National Title since 1995. Collin College and Vincennes University (located in Vincennes, Ind.) are the No. 3 and 4 teams in the country, while Laredo Community College and Tyler Junior College are No. 1 and 2, respectively.
“[Laredo and Tyler] are probably a level above everyone else,” Berryman said. “We’re a little bit of a darkhorse, but we’ve got the personnel. And because of the unique format of this tournament, if someone gets knocked off we’ve definitely got a shot.”
At 20-3 this season, Collin College has compiled the program’s best winning percentage. But Berryman cautions it will still take the combined effort of the six singles players and three doubles teams to win a title. That type of spirit was on display by Tangen Wednesday afternoon as he tried to fire up Manuel Mendoza Carette, Collin College’s No. 1 singles player, shortly after Tangen won his second round match, 6-2, 6-0.
“It’s always good to win any event, especially one that is taking place on your home court,” Tangen said. “There is some pressure with playing at home, but once you get past that first round its easier to loosen up and focus on winning.”
Despite playing on campus, spotty attendance has kept the Cougars’ home-court advantage from being overly imposing.
“People go to theater shows and other events on campus, so why not come watch tennis,” Tangen said. “We aren’t just playing for the coaches and ourselves, we are playing for our school.”
Play is scheduled to resume at Collin College’s Spring Creek Campus and High Point today at 8 a.m.
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