MEN’S TENNIS

The HU men’s tennis team enjoyed a successful week at the ITA Regional Championships hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University, producing an ITA Regional singles champion, a singles runner-up, three semifinalists, four quarterfinalists, and a doubles runner-up team over four days of competition. 

The Foresters established themselves as one of the tournament’s premier programs from the opening rounds. Top-seeded Julian Tantera, third-seeded Mateo Batista, sixth-seeded Mete Koseoglu, and tenth-seeded Javier Lopez Real all advanced through the early rounds of the singles draw, while Huntington also placed three doubles teams into the Round of 16. 

By the conclusion of the second day, Huntington had four players remaining in the Round of 16. Tantera, Batista, Koseoglu, and Lopez Real each continued their strong play, positioning the Foresters for a deep run as the tournament entered its decisive stages. 

Friday proved to be a breakthrough day for Huntington. The Foresters swept their Round of 16 singles matches, with Tantera defeating Spring Arbor’s Daniel Rodriguez Fortes, Lopez Real upsetting fourth-seeded Benjamin Rahine of Grace, Koseoglu cruising past Indiana Wesleyan’s Timo Fischer, and Batista rallying past Marian’s Marc Soriano Sanchez in three sets. 

The quarterfinals further showcased Huntington’s depth. Tantera advanced with a straight-set win over Marian’s fifth-seeded James Ashworth, while Batista knocked off Spring Arbor’s seventh-seeded Aziz Madatov. In an all-Huntington battle, Koseoglu edged Lopez Real 6-1, 3-6, 11-9 to secure a berth in the semifinals. 

Saturday guaranteed a Forester would compete for the regional title. Koseoglu advanced to the championship match by defeating top-seeded teammate Tantera 6-1, 6-4. On the other side of the bracket, Batista continued his dominant play with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Marian’s second-seeded David Deumer. 

The championship match featured two Huntington standouts. Batista captured the opening set 6-3 before Koseoglu responded with a 6-3 win in the second. The title ultimately came down to a deciding match tiebreak, where Batista emerged victorious 11-9 to claim the ITA Regional singles championship. 

Huntington’s success extended to doubles play as well. The tournament’s top-seeded tandem of Julian Tantera and Javier Lopez Real lived up to their billing throughout the week. The duo opened the tournament with victories over teams from Marian and Indiana University Southeast before advancing to the quarterfinals. Tantera and Lopez Real then earned an 8-5 win over Lawrence Tech’s eighth-seeded pairing of Carlos Patricio Merlo and Enzo Yabiku before defeating Indiana Wesleyan’s fifth-seeded team of Giuliano Puga Marini and Michail Klinkov, 8-2, in the semifinals to reach the championship match. 

In the finals, Tantera and Lopez Real battled tough competition before falling 7-6, 6-2 to finish as ITA Regional doubles runners-up. 

The third-seeded team of Koseoglu and Batista also enjoyed a strong tournament, advancing to the Round of 16, while Paul Reupke and Marco Silveira reached the Round of 16 after earning an opening-round victory. 

The tournament reinforced Huntington’s standing among the region’s elite programs. With a regional champion, a regional runner-up, three semifinal appearances, four quarterfinalists, and a doubles team reaching the championship match, the Foresters showcased both their top-end talent and depth against one of the strongest fields of the fall season. 

Tournament Highlights 

• ITA Regional Singles Champion: Mateo Batista 

• ITA Regional Singles Runner-Up: Mete Koseoglu 

• Singles Semifinalists: Batista, Koseoglu, Julian Tantera 

• Singles Quarterfinalists: Batista, Koseoglu, Tantera, and Javier Lopez Real 

• ITA Regional Doubles Runner-Up: Julian Tantera / Javier Lopez Real 

• Three Huntington doubles teams advanced to the Round of 16 

Singles Semifinals 

• Mete Koseoglu (HU) def. Julian Tantera (HU), 6-1, 6-4 

• Mateo Batista (HU) def. David Deumer (Marian), 6-1, 6-2 

Singles Final 

• Mateo Batista (HU) def. Mete Koseoglu (HU), 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 

Doubles Final 

• Julian Tantera/Javier Lopez Real (HU) fell 7-6, 6-2 

The ITA Regional Championships conclude the fall team portion of the season. Huntington’s success in Marion also earned the program national representation, as ITA Regional singles champion Mateo Batista secured a berth to the ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia, this October. The Foresters will then turn their attention to spring competition as they prepare for a run at both the Crossroads League Championship and a berth in the NAIA National Championships.