MONTGOMERY, Ala. — It was a bittersweet ending to an amazing 2022 season on Thursday afternoon as both the Mississippi College men and women's tennis teams fell to top-seeded opponents at the Gulf South Conference Tennis Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama.

Both teams were defeated by final scores of 4-0 as the men were beaten by top seeded West Florida, while the women came up short to top seeded West Alabama, ending the Choctaws season.

Hugs were given, tears were shed, as the Choctaws came together to share a moment at the end of the matches with many of the Choctaws playing their final match in the Navy and Gold.

However, it was the man that recruited each and every one of them that said goodbye one final time as their head coach, as Coach Boteler was embraced with hugs by his players for the last time. Coach Boteler's tenure with MC came to a close Thursday afternoon in Montgomery, ending his 25 year career at the helm of the Mississippi College men and women's tennis program.

"It's funny how when you're younger it's about wins and losses. But as you get older it becomes about building relationships." said Coach Boteler recently.

Those relationships were evident Thursday afternoon after his final match from Mississippi College as he was embraced with hugs by all of his players following the Gulf South Conference Tournament.

Five Mississippi College seniors saw their careers come to a close Thursday as Paulina Cota, Carlos Trujillo, Shane Samyn, Kent Morris, and Daniel McCammon each wrapped up their seasons and careers for the Choctaws.

The men capped off the 2022 season with an overall record of 3-13 while the women finished #68 ranked nationally in the Division II polls with an overall record of 12-7.

After 25 years, Coach Boteler finished his career with Mississippi College with an overall record of 562-369 (Men 283-198, Women 279-164). 

"I have been blessed with the finest young people any coach could ever be associated with. I can't express how proud I am of my players that have excelled as Coaches, teaching pros, business men and women, doctors, therapists, Ministers and parents. I have also had the best assistant coaches possible. I will miss teaching tennis classes at MC- what a joy  students have been!

I look forward to seeing and supporting MC teams in the future."

DOUBLES
1. Bermejo/Descarrega (UWF) def. Trujillo/Ballatore 5-3, UF
2. Miro/Bandeira (UWF) def. Yi Wang/McDaniel (MC) 6-2
3. Costa/Cordeiro (UWF) def. Jarvis/Ellis (MC) 6-3

SINGLES
1. Juan Cabrera (UWF) def. Brady McDaniel (MC) 6-2, 2-3 UF
2. Facundo Bermejo (UWF) def.  Joe Jarvis (MC) 6-2, 6-1
3. Hsiang Yi Wang (MC) def. Tomas Descarrega (UWF) 6-4, 3-0 UF
4. Sebastian Sotelo (UWF) def. Carlos Trujillo (MC) 6-2, 6-1
5. Pedro Cordeiro (UWF) def. Matias Ballatore (MC) 7-6, 1-0 UF
6. Luis Miro (UWF) def. Walker Ellis (MC) 6-3, 6-2

Tennis Match Results
Mississippi College vs West Alabama
4/28/2022 at Montgomery, Ala.
(O'Connor Tennis Center)
#14 West Alabama 4, Mississippi College 0

Singles competition
1.  Almudena Sanz (UWAW) def. Ely Alas (MCW) 6-0, 6-1
2. Katia de la Garza (UWAW) vs. Paulina Cota (MCW) 7-6, unfinished
3. Haina Franco (UWAW) vs. Emma Roberts (MCW) 6-2, 4-2, unfinished
4. Irawan Deewajee (UWAW) vs. Anna Valiaeva (MCW) 6-0, 4-3, unfinished
5. Heden Ly (UWAW) def. Fernanda Cota (MCW) 6-1, 6-0
6. Valeria Arevalo (UWAW) def. Maria Rodriguez (MCW) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Katia de la Garza/Haina Franco (UWAW) def. Ely Alas/Fernanda Cota (MCW) 6-4
2. Almudena Sanz/Irawan Deewajee (UWAW) def. Anna Valiaeva/Anna Didkovska (MCW) 6-1
3. Emma Roberts/Maria Rodriguez (MCW) vs. Heden Ly/Hardija Vidnere (UWAW) no result

Match Notes:
Mississippi College 12-7
West Alabama 17-4; National ranking #14