After a good showing at EWU Fall Classic, Idaho prepares for Boise Fall Invite
Idaho rolls into rival territory this weekend as the men’s tennis team heads to Boise to play in the Boise Fall Invite. Last weekend, the team competed in the Eastern Washington University Fall Classic, where the Vandals opened the season without a head coach.
Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Freshman Felipe Fonseca returns a volley during practice Wednesday. Fonseca won the Main Flight B at the Eastern Washington University Fall Classic in Cheney.
Idaho coach Art Hoomiratana is leading the Vandals as the program looks for a replacement for former Director of Tennis Jeff Beaman.
One Vandal who impressed last weekend was freshman Felipe Fonseca. In his first collegiate tournament, Fonseca won the Main Flight B singles with a 4-0 record. Fonseca also downed top seed Sergio Chip from Gonzaga, cruising to the championship match where he beat Connor Leahy of Seattle U 6-0, 6-3.
“Ever since we started practicing, the coaches try to tell you what to do, give you little tips, and I try to follow really hard,” Fonseca said. “During the tournaments, during conditioning, I try to do my best. I think everything reflects on the tournament. During the tournament, I had a lot of support.”
Eyes will be on Fonseca this weekend in the Boise Fall Invite to see if he can repeat his performance in his second collegiate tournament, but the Brazil native isn’t too concerned about it.
“I’m not looking for results,” he said. “What I try to do is play well, to put in reps. If I have a chance to win of course it’s really nice, but I want to play well and that’s really it.”
Idaho had other good performances in the past tournament, including junior Odon Barta. After losing to eventual champion Nick Kamisar of Gonzaga, Barta cruised through the consolation tournament and won the whole thing. In doubles, Barta found success with partner Mark Kovacs. The pair advanced to the double’s final, where they lost to the Gonzaga pair of Kamisar and Alvaro Nazal.
Idaho coach Art Hoomiratana said he sees the pair, as well as others, finding success in Boise this weekend.
“If they can continue their play in their grouping, they should have a good tournament,” Hoomiratana said. “(Cristobal) Ramos (Salazar) and Fonseca is a good pairing as well, cause Cris is a good doubles player. He made it to nationals last year … They’re getting better every time they play together.”
Ramos Salazar was not satisfied with his performance in the last tournament. The senior said his tennis elbow injury from last year affected his play.
“I know I’m not at my best right now,” Ramos Salazar said. “I’m not thinking about that, I’m going forward and not thinking about my injury. But I think I could have done better.”
Ramos Salazar said he still has high hopes for the team in Boise this coming weekend. He said he anticipates the Vandals will compete better since they are still getting used to playing tournaments this season.
Ben Evensen can be reached at [email protected]