Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (May 1, 2026) – The North Central men's tennis team turned in a sweep of Wheaton College in the semifinal match of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament on Friday, winning 4-0. Andres Valverde Gonzalez spearheaded the effort for North Central, turning in a pair of wins and helping set up a date with the second-seeded Carthage College in the championship match Saturday at noon in Bloomington.
The Cardinals' domination began in doubles, with the number three pairing of Matt Crossland and David Vilarroig Martinez earning a 6-2 win, followed shortly after by Henry Ros and Valverde Gonzalez in the number one spot collecting a 6-1 win to clinch the doubles point for the North Central. The team of Philipp Wottgen and Jack Briggs in the number two spot was up 4-3 in their contest when it was abandoned following North Central's second doubles victory.
In atypical fashion, it was the bottom of the Cardinal lineup that turned in two of the three needed points in singles play for Coach Joey Leto and North Central. The first win came in the number five spot from Ignacio Hernandez Ruiz, who swept his opponent 6-1, 6-1 to improve to 11-8 on the season.
The second singles point and third point in the match overall were earned by Valverde Gonzalez playing in the number three spot in the lineup. He coasted to a straight-sets win (6-2, 6-1), improving to 13-4 in the number-three spot this season.
Vilarroig Martinez secured North Central's trip to the CCIW Championship in the number six spot. He brought home a 6-4, 6-4 win in straight sets to give North Central its fourth point, clinching the match for the number one seed in the tournament.
North Central takes on No. 28 Carthage College Saturday at noon at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington in the CCIW Championship, searching for its second straight tournament championship.
