The women’s tennis doubles team consisting of Emma Chow ’15 and first-year Tess Trinka finished fourth at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Small College National Championship last weekend, automatically earning 2014-2015 ITA All American recognition and becoming the first women’s doubles team in College history to do so.
The pair received a bid after a doubles pair from Williams declined an invitation to the tournament.
“It was exciting to be the first Bowdoin women’s doubles team to be at the tournament and have the opportunity to play other top doubles teams from across the country,” said Chow.
“I definitely never expected that I would compete at the championships,” added Trinka.
The Polar Bear duo traveled to Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina and played on October 9 and 10, earning their All American status after defeating Emory’s first seeded doubles pair. The Bears lost to a team from Claremont Mudd Scripps in the semifinals, and in the third-place match lost to a duo from the University of Chicago.
“While we wish we had played better and had won those last two matches, it’s encouraging for the team to know that all these top teams are very beatable. This will give us confidence that we can beat these teams when we face them in the spring,” said Chow.
“This weekend was a really great opportunity to play some of the top doubles teams across the country and we got to see how we match up with them,” said Trinka.
However, Chow and Trinka will not remain a duo for the remainder of the fall season as the team tries out different double pairings.
“Tess and I aren’t playing together at this weekend’s tournament and likely won’t in the spring. The tournament made us each more aware of the specific areas we need to further develop during our upcoming matches and the off season,” said Chow.
Next up for the team is this weekend’s Bowdoin Invitational at which the Polar Bears will host Tufts University, Wellesley College and Bates College.
“As a senior, I started out the season with the attitude that I need to enjoy every match because this is the last time I will play tennis at this level,” said Chow. “This is my last opportunity to compete at this caliber and play for a national championship. I view it as my responsibility to do everything I can to get this team the championship trophy. That would be the ultimate way to round out my Bowdoin and tennis career.”
That same weekend, the men’s tennis team sent several players to the Wallach Invitational at Bates College.
First-year Kyle Wolfe went undefeated against players from Tufts, Middlebury, Skidmore and Trinity, winning the B-Flight Singles at the tournament.
Other players who competed in the tournament included Noah Bragg ’15, Hugh Mo ’17, and Kyle Wolstencroft ’15.