Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Dominate UTR Stillwater; Kobelt Takes Home Singles Title
January 15, 2026 | Cowboy Tennis
STILLWATERÂ -Â Oklahoma State men's tennis junior Nicolas Kobelt wrapped up a successful individual season on Thursday morning, capturing the UTR Stillwater title over fellow Cowboy Charlie Valentine at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
Eight Cowboys participated this week, with all eight going undefeated against non-Cowboy opponents (19-0).Â
Swiss-native Kobelt took home the title in a semifinal session filled with Cowboys. Starting in the group stage, Kobelt took three straight wins, all in straight-set fashion. In the semifinals, Kobelt battled with sophomore Haydar Gokpinar, coming back after dropping the first set, to advance to the finals, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
In Thursday's title match, Kobelt went back-and-forth with freshman and 92nd-ranked Valentine, going the distance but pulling away in the third set, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Kobelt adds the UTR title to his impressive individual resume. In November, he won the Cowboy Classic doubles title.Â
Valentine reached the title bout in similar fashion, taking three straight wins in the group stages, again all in straight sets. In the semifinals, the freshman defeated OSU sophomore Ian Bracks, 7-6(5), 2-6, 4-6.Â
Fellow freshman Gokpinar also had to battle through three separate Cowboys during his week. Starting in group C, Gokpinar outlasted sophomore Thomas Gadecki, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, before falling to the eventual champion, Kobelt, in the semifinals. Gokpinar ended the week with Thursday's third-place match against Bracks, a battle that went over three hours and saw Gokpinar pull away with a late third set comeback, 7-6(3), 1-6, 7-5.Â
Just like Kobelt and Valentine, Bracks took his group in dominant style, yet again taking every match, all in just two sets. Fellow sophomore Gadecki fought the entire week, falling in the group stage final to Gokpinar, but battling back to win two straight and secure the fifth-place title.Â
Senior transfer from Georgia Southern Aaron Williams saw his first action in the black and orange and ended up with a sixth-place finish. Alessio Basile, subbing in for Ben Stecker who retired from his second match of the week, won all three of his matches and finished in ninth.Â
The Cowboys return to team action on Saturday as they open the spring season with a doubleheader against Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. and UT-Rio Grande Valley at 5 p.m. at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State men's tennis, visit okstate.com and follow @CowboyTennis on Instagram and X.
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UTR Stillwater Final Positions:
1st Place – Nicolas Kobelt
2nd Place – Charlie Valentine
3rd Place – Haydar Gokpinar
4th Place – Ian Bracks
5th Place – Thomas Gadecki
6th Place – Aaron Williams
9th Place (sub.) – Alessio Basile
Â
Eight Cowboys participated this week, with all eight going undefeated against non-Cowboy opponents (19-0).Â
Swiss-native Kobelt took home the title in a semifinal session filled with Cowboys. Starting in the group stage, Kobelt took three straight wins, all in straight-set fashion. In the semifinals, Kobelt battled with sophomore Haydar Gokpinar, coming back after dropping the first set, to advance to the finals, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
In Thursday's title match, Kobelt went back-and-forth with freshman and 92nd-ranked Valentine, going the distance but pulling away in the third set, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Kobelt adds the UTR title to his impressive individual resume. In November, he won the Cowboy Classic doubles title.Â
Valentine reached the title bout in similar fashion, taking three straight wins in the group stages, again all in straight sets. In the semifinals, the freshman defeated OSU sophomore Ian Bracks, 7-6(5), 2-6, 4-6.Â
Fellow freshman Gokpinar also had to battle through three separate Cowboys during his week. Starting in group C, Gokpinar outlasted sophomore Thomas Gadecki, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, before falling to the eventual champion, Kobelt, in the semifinals. Gokpinar ended the week with Thursday's third-place match against Bracks, a battle that went over three hours and saw Gokpinar pull away with a late third set comeback, 7-6(3), 1-6, 7-5.Â
Just like Kobelt and Valentine, Bracks took his group in dominant style, yet again taking every match, all in just two sets. Fellow sophomore Gadecki fought the entire week, falling in the group stage final to Gokpinar, but battling back to win two straight and secure the fifth-place title.Â
Senior transfer from Georgia Southern Aaron Williams saw his first action in the black and orange and ended up with a sixth-place finish. Alessio Basile, subbing in for Ben Stecker who retired from his second match of the week, won all three of his matches and finished in ninth.Â
The Cowboys return to team action on Saturday as they open the spring season with a doubleheader against Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. and UT-Rio Grande Valley at 5 p.m. at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State men's tennis, visit okstate.com and follow @CowboyTennis on Instagram and X.
Â
UTR Stillwater Final Positions:
1st Place – Nicolas Kobelt
2nd Place – Charlie Valentine
3rd Place – Haydar Gokpinar
4th Place – Ian Bracks
5th Place – Thomas Gadecki
6th Place – Aaron Williams
9th Place (sub.) – Alessio Basile
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Players Mentioned
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/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
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