Alabama Wheelchair Tennis Wins Fifth Consecutive National Title
Another national championship is headed to Tuscaloosa! The Alabama Wheelchair Tennis Team beat Michigan on Sunday to win its sixth national championship in program history and the fifth consecutive championship. Junior Thomas Venos took home the Tier 1 Individual Championship, as well.
After the pandemic canceled the championship last year, the USTA Collegiate National Championship celebrated its 20th anniversary this past weekend in Orlando with a championship weekend. Eight schools from five different states competed in one of the most vigorous fields in tournament history. The teams included: Alabama, Auburn, San Diego State, Michigan, Clemson, Arizona, Biola University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
The Tide got rewarded with the first seed in the tournament and faced Clemson in the first matchup on Thursday. The team went 6-0 in match play and secured three single wins from Lauren Haneke-Hopps, Jeremy Boyd, and Thomas Venos in the win over Clemson.
On Saturday, the team faced the number three seed Arizona Wildcats in the semifinals. The Crimson Tide thought hard against the Wildcats to go 2-1 in match play and advance to the national championship to face Michigan. Thomas Venos defeated four of the top players in the country to represent Bama in the Tier 1 Individual Championship.
The reigning national champions looked to defend their title against the Michigan Wolverines early Sunday morning, and Junior Thomas Venos looked to win an individual title. The team went 3-0 against the Wolverines to win their fifth consecutive national championship and sixth in program history. After lunch, Venos secured the Tier 1 Individual Championship by defeating Jason Keatseangsilp (Arizona) with an overall score of 3-6, 6-4, and 11-9.
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