2008 Season Review

For the Taylor men's Tennis team the 2007 was a season for the record books, with a Mid-Central College Conference Championship and a second place finish at the Region 8 Tournament. In 2008 the team looked to repeat that success, needing to do so with many new faces. With four seniors graduating, the 2008 tennis team went to work with four new starters in the lineup.

Coach Don Taylor looked for his team to step up, develop quickly and fight for a conference championship and a trip to the post-season in the spring of 2009. With sophomore #1 singles player in Felipe Bedon leading the way the Trojan Tennis team indeed made 2008 another season to remember.

The season started well for Taylor's team with four consecutive wins, including two dominating conference wins. This set up a date with Indiana Wesleyan, the other frontrunner for the MCC title. The match was intense and deserving of a fight for first place, but Indiana Wesleyan prevailed in the end, 5-4. Taylor and IWU split the singles matches, with Bedon and Dave Smith taking care of #1 and 2 singles, and Jack Reed capturing the #4 slot. Yet IWU ultimately won the victory in the doubles matches, taking two out of three.

From there the Trojans continued their solid play and finished with an overall record of 8-3 and a second place finish in the MCC at 6-1. Taylor also captured three individual MCC championships at the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament, leading to another second place finish. Felipe Bedon gained the #1 singles title, Dave Smith captured the #2 singles, and Bedon and Jack Reed were champions at #2 doubles. These performances led to Bedon, Smith, and Reed (second at #4 singles) being named to the All-Conference team.

Coach Taylor expressed disappointment at coming so close to a postseason berth, but was pleased with how the team performed on the court, how they developed as individuals, and as a cohesive team.

A highlight this year, and a new page in the Taylor Tennis record book was completed by Felipe Bedon. Felipe is Taylor's first ever Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Champion.  The ITA hosts eight regional tournaments for singles and doubles, and the winners of those regional tournaments qualify for the ITA National Tournament.  Bedon won the Midwest Regional at Cedarville, OH which qualified him for the ITA National Tournament in Mobile, AL. Bedon posted a 1-2 record at nationals where he finished seventh in the tournament.

Coach Taylor looks for 2008 to be a stepping stone of a season as the outlook is bright for 2009. With Bedon returning to lead the team and the experience gained this season, look for the Trojans to be in contention again for the MCC title in 2009.