With all eyes on them at the ITA Fall Regional Championship match, Southwestern tennis's Hunter Bajoit and Trinity's Cameron Krimbill battled back-and-forth in a grueling first set that Krimbill eventually took 7-6 on his way to winning the match.
"If you watched the first set of the ITA Regional Finals, it was some of the highest level tennis I've ever witnessed in 12 years of coaching Division III tennis," Southwestern head tennis coach Billy Porter says. "They've competed against each other on the biggest stages and seem always to flip-flop the results. Hopefully, that holds true, and it's Hunter's turn if we get a chance to play them in the SCAC Tournament."
The duel between the two reigning SCAC Co-Players of the Year was the latest chapter in what has become one of the most entertaining rivalries in Division III tennis.
"It's been a lot of fun. I have a lot of respect for Cameron," Bajoit says. "He pushes me, and I push him. You never know who's going to win. That challenge is why I love tennis."
The Bajoit-Krimbill match serves as a potential preview of the SCAC Tournament Championship and a reminder of where the two programs stand, with Southwestern closing the gap against Trinity but still unable to cross it.
Southwestern had three cracks at Trinity last season, falling just short in the regular season, conference championship, and the third round of the NCAA Tournament. However, falling just short has left the Pirates more determined than ever.
"They're laser-focused. The guys understand they only had three losses all last season, and they all came against the same team," Porter says. "Each match they got a little closer to turning the tables, and they can taste it. It's evident in how they practice daily. Their energy and focus are second to none."
With a senior-laden team, the Pirates are operating with the intensity of a team that knows its opportunities are dwindling with five seniors.
"Everyone knows going in this is our last dance," senior team co-captain Carlos Esteban Rodero says. "We've given everything we could the last few years, and everyone is hungry and committed to getting better. No one is complaining about practice or strength training. The culture is the best we've had, and everyone is enjoying it."
Southwestern's opportunities against Trinity will be more limited this season. The two nationally-ranked teams won't meet in the regular season, meaning the first match this season will probably be with a conference championship at stake.
"Trinity is so good on the men's side. It's not necessarily anything with us other than we're going up against a juggernaut," Porter says. "The key is keeping the pressure on them when we play. The stress on their faces is noticeable when they try to close us out, but they've found ways to get it done. The key is to hang around and extend matches to try and make it a 5-4 decision where anything can happen."
The Pirates will have plenty of opportunities to study for a challenging test with one of the most daunting schedules in program history. Southwestern will travel to North Carolina on the second weekend to face No. 9-ranked North Carolina Wesleyan and No. 25 Christopher Newport. Then, the Pirates will kick off their spring break trip in Orlando, Florida, against No. 2 Case Western Reserve and face Kenyon, who remained nationally ranked at No. 35 despite missing half its roster due to COVID. Southwestern will also face No. 11 Chicago.
Southwestern also has matches scheduled against NCAA Division I, the University of the Incarnate Word, Prairie View A&M, and NCAA Division II St. Mary's University and Midwestern State.
"[The difficult schedule] is huge because it's what our biggest competitor has done for years, and now we're at the same level. From a recruiting perspective, it's narrowed the gap," Porter explains. "We're very fortunate to have a group that understands the bigger picture. We embrace the idea of losing to a Division I school over beating a Division III school 9-0 if it helps us prepare for our end-of-season goals. Not a lot of programs have people who'd willingly sacrifice their record to be better."
Bajoit believes the team is ready for the challenge. Last season, Bajoit became the second NCAA Singles qualifier and All-American in program history after finishing the season ranked No. 17 in the nation, leading Southwestern to its first top-10 national ranking at No. 10.
"It feels like we've reached that next step as a team. You could feel our play elevate during the NCAA Tournament, and even though we graduated Alex Joseph and have some new guys, you still feel this entire team has leveled up," Bajoit says. "But we have to push each other every day and hold each other accountable. It's an everyday process. The intensity and focus have to be there every practice because you know the great teams are out there putting in just as much work."
Southwestern also returns senior Vesko Lekovic, a regionally-ranked singles and doubles player who earned All-SCAC First Team in doubles last year, Max Pearson, and welcomes back Hemanshu Rambojun after missing last season due to the pandemic.
"Hemanshu is obviously a huge piece to have back. He and Hunter were a top 20 doubles team as sophomores, then Vesko stepped up in his absence and was a regionally-ranked team with Hunter. So now Hemanshu is back, and he and Hunter are a top 20 team again," Porter says. "We're going to have to figure out the right combinations, which is a good problem to have. It gives you an idea of our depth."
The depth is bolstered by doubles specialist Drew Shuvalov, who will work his way back from injury, the steady presence of Steven Tibbetts at the bottom of the singles lineup, a solid spring from sophomore Anton Borovik, and a promising trio of freshmen in Jared Burton, Daniel Haley, and Oscar Roy.
"We have two freshmen who will be ready to compete on Day 1," Porter proclaims. "Jared Burton is an exceptional doubles player. He's a top 25, Day 1 starter. It's just a matter of figuring out where he fits. And Oscar Roy is a strong singles player who was recruited by a lot of the big Division III programs, and we're fortunate to have him."
Esteban Rodero says that the newcomers have fit right in and added to the team culture.
"The new guys have a level of commitment we didn't have as freshmen," Esteban Rodero explains. "These guys will come in on off weekends and hit on their own. They just want to get better, play, and win. It's nice as a team captain not to have to get on anyone to work at practice."
With five seniors facing the end of their careers, Bajoit says the emphasis is to leave the program better than they found it.
"That's one of the most important things. Winning a conference championship and continuing to level up and take the next steps in the right directions," Bajoit says. "I try to do as much for the team off the court as on because that's my role in making sure the team does continue to move forward. That's one of the most important things for me and those who've come before me."