Men's College Tennis
Rider University 5, St. Thomas Aquinas 4
Rider's Ed Torres 200th Coaching Win
SPARKILL, N.Y.--Senior co-captain Marc Ashed (Vineland) won at fourth singles and teamed up with senior co-captain Will Haight (Sewell/Washington Twp.) for a win at number one doubles as the Rider University men's tennis team won for the first time this fall. Ashed won 6-1, 6-2 after the 8-4 doubles win. "They were strong at the top and we were stronger at the bottom of the line up," said head coach Ed Torres who won his 200th career match. "As you can see, it came down to the doubles play and if we don't take two out of three, we lose 5-4."
A Rider Athletics Hall of Famer as a player, Torres came back to Rider in 1995 to coach the men's and women's tennis teams.
"I proud to have been at Rider long enough to get to 200 wins," Torres said. "I've probably lost a few more than I've won but it is still a nice milestone. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be at Rider this long, never mind hit 200 wins. I wish it were a few more but before I leave, I'm sure it will be. In the last 15 years, we've gone from no recruited players to athletes that really only specialize in tennis. The players today are a lot more athletic than when I first started. We've had a steady build up and our move from the Northeast Conference to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has also increased the level of competition. All of the players, both men and women can be proud to share a part of this milestone because they are the ones that won the matches."
"We're very happy to have gotten coach Torres his 200th win," Ashed said. "We're happy to win the match for him today. We were going back and forth with the women's team to see who would get the milestone win for him and we're proud that the men's team was able to do it. Both teams wanted to show their appreciation for all that Coach Torres has done for us by getting the win."
As a player Torres compiled a record of 43-1 as Rider's number one singles player in the 1950s. Torres still competes today, winning a gold medal in the 2008 New Jersey Senior Olympic Games. In nine years of New Jersey Senior Olympic play, Torres has won 15 gold and three silver medals.
In 1995 Torres was ranked first in New Jersey in the men's 55 years old and over division, and second in the Middle States Tennis Association in the men's 60 years and older division. In 1996 Torres won a gold medal in singles at the National Senior Games in the 60-65 year old category in Tucson, Arizona.
Torres retired in 1994 from Neptune Middle School after 35 years. He served as a Spanish teacher and spent his last 20 years there as vice-principal.
"I missed the last few matches due to the Jewish Holidays," Ashed said. "I was fresh and had two weeks of practice to get ready. I did what I needed to and got the win."
Also for the Broncs, junior Chris Esposito (Ocean Grove/Neptune) won 6-0, 6-0 at fifth singles with freshman Milo Milosovici (Florence) winning 6-0, 6-0 at sixth singles.
Junior Rob Olsen (Marlton/Cherokee) and freshman John Spellman (Toms River/Toms River HS South) scored an 8-3 win at third doubles.
"Our guys played well against them," Torres added. "It was a good experience."
The Rider men host Fordham October 6 at 3:00pm.
"We have five or six freshman in the line up," Ashed added. "We know the team is going to get better and better. We have to be patient and we know the results will come in the win column."
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