Hanover Park, Ill. -- The new season got underway for the Wheaton men's tennis team on Saturday afternoon, as the Thunder played host to the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders in a non-conference match. Wheaton cruised past the Wisconsin visitors by a score of 8-1 for the second meeting running to begin the 2024 campaign on a strong note.

The hosts claimed victory in all three doubles fixtures to set a strong foundation for the team win. Jack Booker and Cody Ching return for another year in the #1 doubles slot, and they outlasted their MSOE counterparts by a score of 8-6. Joey Geisz and Jacob Williams, Wheaton's established #2 doubles pairing, fought past the corresponding Raiders duo at a 8-5 decision. First-time doubles partners Tim Steiner and Andrew Jang then made it three points from three with an 8-4 win at #3 doubles.

Steiner topped his MSOE opponent 6-4 in the first set of their #2 singles matchup before cruising to a 6-1 second set victory. Geisz earned the most dominant singles win for the Thunder this evening with a 6-1, 6-0 result in his #3 position. Ching sailed to a comfortable 6-1, 6-1 win in the #4 singles match, and this scoreline was equaled by freshman Andrew Winters at #5 singles. Jang then wrapped up a dominant day for Wheaton with a 6-3, 6-2 win in the final position.

The Thunder men will head to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin next weekend for three matches at Wisconsin-Whitewater's Warhawk Invite. Wheaton will play UW-Whitewater on Friday afternoon before facing Luther College and Grinnell College on Saturday.