Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ivan Puchkarov Captures 2006 Central Region Championship
October 23, 2006 | Cowboy Tennis
Oklahoma State's men's tennis program has the Central Region champion for the second-straight year as Ivan Puchkarov won the 2006 Wilson/ITA Central Region Championship on Monday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla.
The third-seeded Puchkarov faced Tulsa's 80th-ranked Ricardo Soriano in the finals and took the opening set, 6-1. Things looked bleak in the second set for the junior as he fell behind, 4-1, before rallying to claim the decisive set, 7-5.
“Ivan has played 11 straight days of high quality tennis,” head coach James Wadley said. “We were worried about him hitting the wall but he went out there and beat a good player in Soriano who is on top of his game. We are very proud of him and hopefully he can carry this into the National Indoor Tournament.”
The Ukraine native has played outstanding tennis this fall as he won three matches in the qualifying rounds at the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Championships and advanced to the round of 16 before falling to the eventual champion, Tulsa's Arnau Brugues, at the prestigious tournament last month.
Just prior to the Central Region Championship, Puchkarov entered a future events in Dallas and once again made his way through qualifying before falling in the round of 16 to the top seed, Martin Fischer.
By advancing to the finals, Puchkarov receives an automatic bid to the 2006 National Indoor Championships in November. His win marks the second-straight year an Oklahoma State player has won the regional title. In 2005, Daniel Byrnes defeated teammate Tomas Bohunicky for the title.
Puchkarov will next be in action when he travels to Columbus, Ohio, to compete at the 2006 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships November 2-5.
Central Region Championship
#61 Puchkarov def. #83 R. Soriano; 6-1, 7-5
The third-seeded Puchkarov faced Tulsa's 80th-ranked Ricardo Soriano in the finals and took the opening set, 6-1. Things looked bleak in the second set for the junior as he fell behind, 4-1, before rallying to claim the decisive set, 7-5.
“Ivan has played 11 straight days of high quality tennis,” head coach James Wadley said. “We were worried about him hitting the wall but he went out there and beat a good player in Soriano who is on top of his game. We are very proud of him and hopefully he can carry this into the National Indoor Tournament.”
The Ukraine native has played outstanding tennis this fall as he won three matches in the qualifying rounds at the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Championships and advanced to the round of 16 before falling to the eventual champion, Tulsa's Arnau Brugues, at the prestigious tournament last month.
Just prior to the Central Region Championship, Puchkarov entered a future events in Dallas and once again made his way through qualifying before falling in the round of 16 to the top seed, Martin Fischer.
By advancing to the finals, Puchkarov receives an automatic bid to the 2006 National Indoor Championships in November. His win marks the second-straight year an Oklahoma State player has won the regional title. In 2005, Daniel Byrnes defeated teammate Tomas Bohunicky for the title.
Puchkarov will next be in action when he travels to Columbus, Ohio, to compete at the 2006 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships November 2-5.
Central Region Championship
#61 Puchkarov def. #83 R. Soriano; 6-1, 7-5
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
