Hanover Park, Ill. -- Having concluded its conference match slate earlier this week, the Thunder men's tennis team wrapped up its regular season at large on Saturday afternoon by playing host to WIAC opponents University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Today was the Wheaton team's Senior Day celebration, and fourth-year players David Houlihan and Jack Wenzel were recognized for their contributions to the program. Unfortunately for the Thunder, they could not mark the occasion with a victory, as their regionally-ranked visitors stormed to a 7-2 victory. Wheaton's season record is now 11-9, and the squad will wait to see where it ends up in the seeding pecking order for next week's conference tournament. 

The Thunder earned one out of an available three points in the doubles competitions on Saturday, with their win coming courtesy of Joey Geisz and Jacob Williams, who teamed up to claim another victory at #2 doubles via an 8-4 scoreline. The hosts managed to force a tiebreaker at #3 doubles, but the Blugolds edged the Wheaton pair out to establish a slim 2-1 lead heading into singles play,

Wheaton's only victory in the solo matches came from Geisz, who triumphed in his #5 fixture with a 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9) comeback tiebreak situation. Two other singles competitions were decided by ten-point tiebreak games, but both the #1 and #6 results went against the home side and UW-Eau Claire was able to seal the win.

Wheaton's attention will now turn to the 2023 CCIW Men's Tennis Championship, which the Thunder are hosting for the first time since 2016. Play is set to begin on Thursday morning, and the tournament will run through Saturday afternoon's championship match.