Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 21 Cowboys defeat No. 54 Oklahoma, 5-2
April 22, 2006 | Cowboy Tennis
After falling behind early on Saturday afternoon, Oklahoma State's 21st-ranked men's tennis team rallied in singles to defeat No. 54 Oklahoma
In doubles action, the Sooners (14-11, 1-6) took the early lead after winning at No. 3 and then No.1. The Cowboys (15-4, 4-3) won at the No. 2 position to avoid the sweep when Tomas Bohunicky and Artie Burmistrau defeated Tommy Garrison and Federico Chavarria, 8-5.
“I was disappointed in our doubles, but OU won every doubles except Texas A&M in Big 12 play,” said OSU coach James Wadley.
After falling behind early, OSU responded to win five consecutive singles matches to clinch the match.
Fittingly, in what could be his final match at home as a Cowboy, Bohunicky fought off a second-set comeback bid to clinch the match for the Cowboys, defeating Alexi Ivanov 6-3,7-5. Seconds later, Daniel Byrnes won his match.
“(Assistant coach) Yevgen (Bondarchuk) came and told me that we both clinched the match at almost the exact same time,” Bohunicky said. “It's unusual that it ended like that.”
With Ivan Puchkarov winning by a tie-breaker in the second set, Wadley said the Bedlam Bell could have been on it's way to Norman for the first time.
“It could have gone either way at No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3,” Wadley said. “We were fortunate to get those wins. Plus Artie and Olex (Kotsiuk) played really great.”
With Saturday being Senior Day, the Cowboys sent Bohunicky and Felipe Diaz off with yet another Bedlam victory.
“I'm glad Felipe and Tomas were able to play an entire career without losing to their rivals,” Wadley said.
Results
Doubles
1. Velicka/Ivanov def. No. 51 Byrnes/Byrnes, 8-5
2. Bohunicky/Burmistrau def. No. 49 Garrison/Chavarria, 8-5
3. Avedeyev/Gregg def. Diaz/Puchkarov, 8-3
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
Singles
1. No. 14 Daniel Byrnes def. No. 62 Marek Velicka, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2
2. Tomas Bohunicky def. Alexi Ivanov, 6-3, 7-5
3. No. 92 Ivan Puchkarov def Tommy Garrison, 6-2, 7-6
4. Artie Burmistrau def. Cale Planck, 6-1, 6-1
5. Lee Gregg def. Felipe Diaz, 7-6, 6-1
6. Olexsander Kotsiuk def. Sergey Avedeyev, 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 4, 6, 3, 2, 1, 5
