PICTURED ABOVE: Wheaton freshman Dane Paulsen was a winner at number-two singles and number-two doubles on Friday night.

Rock Island, Ill. -  The Thunder men's tennis team picked up its first win of the season on Friday night with a 5-4 win against Luther College (2-1). Wheaton earned a critical edge with wins in two of the three doubles matches as each team won three singles matches. Wheaton's advantage in the doubles competition led the squad's 5-4 advantage in the match.

Thunder junior Justin Ancona won a 7-5, 6-0 matchup at number-one singles against Luther's Kyle Appel. Freshman Dane Paulsen won a 6-1, 6-4 decision at number-two singles against Trent Schneider and Matt Steiner earn a 6-4, 7-5 victory at number-three singles against Anders Jensen.

Paulsen and Lincoln Metz teamed at number-two doubles to earn an 8-5 victory against Jensen and Brian Murman. Karl Wenzel and Josh Cheng picked up an 8-6 win at number-three doubles against Luther's tandem of Isaiah Mayerchak and Nate Parsons.

Wheaton is now 1-1 on the season. The Thunder will compete UW-Whitewater's Warhawk Invite next weekend. Wheaton will face the host Warhawks of UW-Whitewater on February 19 at 1:00 p.m. The Thunder will take on Grinnell and Ohio Wesleyan on February 20 in Wheaton's final two matches of the tournament.

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WHEATON COLLEGE 5, LUTHER COLLEGE 4
Singles competition
1. Justin Ancona (WHEATON) def. Kyle Appel (LUTHER) 7-5, 6-0
2. Dane Paulsen(WHEATON) def. Trent Schneider (LUTHER) 6-1, 6-4
3. Matt Steiner(WHEATON) def. Anders Jensen (LUTHER) 6-4, 7-5
4. Nate Parsons (LUTHER) def. Lincoln Metz (WHEATON) 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
5. Isaiah Mayerchak (LUTHER) def. Karl Wenzel(WHEATON) 6-1, 7-5
6. Sam Buffington (LUTHER) def. Josh Cheng (WHEATON) 6-7, 7-6, 10-6
Doubles competition
1. Kyle Appel/Trent Schneider (LUTHER) def. Justin Ancona/Matt Steiner (WHEATON) 9-8
2. Dane Paulsen/Lincoln Metz (WHEATON) def. Anders Jensen/Brian Murman (LUTHER) 8-5
3. Josh Cheng/Karl Wenzel(WHEATON) def. Isaiah Mayerchak/Nate Parsons (LUTHER) 8-6