Middlebury Invite 2023 Recap

What a way to kick things off! The Middlebury Invite featured six other competitive DIII programs, and the Panthers really came to play. Across the six total flights (4 singles draws and 2 doubles draws), and we had Panthers make a run to the finals in 4 of 6 flights. Additionally indicating our impressive depth was that all nine of our competitors in this event posted a win! We knocked out both the #1 and #2 seed in the A Flight Doubles draw, knocked out the #1 seed in the B Flight singles draw, and won the singles A Flight! Pretty solid showing all around, but certainly still a lot to learn and grow from. Not how we start the year that means the most, but now we have increased clarity and determination to dial in our collective games to keep rising.

Joy always a key theme in our program!

Middlebury Invitational 2023 Highlights

• Julian Wu played eight matches across two days, winning the A Flight Singles Draw and making a run to the finals of the B Flight Doubles Draw partnering with Noah Lewis.

• Noah Lewis and Nathan Jackson both made deep runs in the B Flight Singles, with Noah making it to the semis and Nathan making it to the finals after dispatching the #1-seed in his semifinal win.

• Freshmen Thehan Wijemanne and Nikky Kondamuri both achieved some excellent doubles wins in the back draw brackets pairing with Neel Epstein and Nathan Jackson respectively.

• Joe Mairs made a wonderful run to the C Flight Singles final and took out the top-seeded doubles team in the A Flight pairing with Hugh Hentschel.

Joe Mairs and Hugh Hentschel talking strategy on a changeover!

• Neel Epstein paired with freshmen Thehan Wijemanne to knock out the #2 seeded doubles team in the A flight. 

• Max Kim, Hugh Hentschel, and Neel Epstein also each posted solid singles win in their respective flights.

Thehan gearing up to serve with partner Neel Epstein at the net.

Fun Fact

We have been giving out the same trophies at the Midd Invite for over two decades!

Julian Wu with his trophy picture after conquering the A Singles Flight.

Upcoming Fall Schedule

Date           Time        Event                          Location

9/29-10/1   All Day    ITA Regionals                Brunswick, ME

10/7-8        All Day    Skidmore Invitational    Saratoga Springs, NY

Go Midd!