Deep Men’s Tennis Roster Preparing for Spring Season

Twelve talented players are ready to bring more success for a Georgia Gwinnett College men’s tennis program that has won 147 straight dual matches and seven consecutive NAIA national championships. 

The Grizzlies feature a nearly perfect balance of veterans and newcomers, with four seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen ready to open the season January 27 at nationally ranked NCAA Division II Lander University (South Carolina).

“We have traditionally played Lander early in the season and going on the road this year will be a good opening match. This year’s team has a bunch of veterans that’s complimented by talented newcomers. I feel good about the team’s makeup, which has created a competitive atmosphere at practice,” said Head Coach Chase Hodges, who has posted a 189-3 record in nine seasons leading the Grizzlies.

Senior Valentino Caratini returns for a fifth season after being a member of three NAIA team championships and two national doubles titles. He enters 2022 ranked No. 1 nationally in doubles, teaming with senior Agustin Tamagnone to win the NAIA national title at last fall’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association Cup. Tamagnone also captured the singles championship at the same tournament. 

Caratini went 18-1 last spring in singles action, while collecting a 20-2 doubles record. Tamagnone went undefeated in 17 combined matches, posting a 10-0 singles record in his first season in Lawrenceville.

Senior Federico Bonacia has been a key doubles contributor during his career, compiling a 15-3 record and playing on the No. 1 court in the 2021 and 2019 championship seasons. He won the clinching point in the 2019 NAIA national championship match. Then, he won seven of his eight singles matches last spring. Senior Vicente Lagos posted a 10-1 singles record in his first seasons as a Grizzly in 2021.

Junior Jose Dugo is another NAIA nationally ranked singles and doubles player. He was undefeated in all nine singles matches on the No. 4 court last season and had an 18-1 overall singles record. Dugo also compiled an impressive 20-1 doubles record, playing primarily with sophomore Alex Gurmendi over the last two seasons. Gurmendi shined in his first full season in the singles lineup, posting a team-high 20 victories and a 17-2 record on the No. 1 court.

Junior Matthias Haim had a 18-2 singles record and 18-3 doubles mark in his initial collegiate season. He was named the most outstanding player at the 2021 NAIA national championships.

Classmate Daniel Czepielewski has been a strong contributor in the doubles lineup and is coming off a strong fall season in which he advanced through the singles and doubles draws at the ITA Cup.

Sophomore Max Stewart gained experience last spring by winning both of his singles matches. 

Newcomers competing for playing time this spring are sophomore Rikhardt Bierman; freshman Guilhem Perez Le Tiec, the 2021 Grizzly Open singles champion; and freshman Matthew Sloan. All three student-athletes competed this past fall in the ITA South Regional and Grizzly Open fall tournaments.