London, ON - Today's team recognition as part of the 2023 Mustangs Season of Celebration is the Mustangs Tennis Teams.


 
With three starting lineup players having graduated last year, a young Women's team opened up the season strong against Brock ultimately winning with a 6-1 score which they followed the next day with a 7-0 win over Waterloo. The winning momentum continued, as the 'Stangs took home a pair of 7-0 wins over Ottawa and York. 
 
At the OUA Championships in Toronto, Western took home first place for the first time since 2018. 7-0 wins over Ottawa and Waterloo booked the 'Stangs a spot in the gold medal match against Toronto, which they won 4-3. The Varsity Blues took all three doubles matches to start, leaving Western to battle hard for the banner. In the singles round, Justine Bryson fought hard but Toronto took the point for their side. Paige Baynham fought hard in her match, winning the second set 6-2 but dropping the first and third sets 6-0 & 6-3. Mustang Lauryn Son took both of her sets 7-6 & 6-4 to secure her point, which was followed up with Grace Whitley taking her match 6-1,6-2 and Anna Mockovciak winning 6-4, 6-3. Carley Citron rounded out the Mustangs singles wins with a 7-5, 7-6 win to secure the gold medal. 
 
Lauryn Son was named OUA Rookie of the Year while Justine Bryson and Grace Whitley were named OUA All-Stars. In addition, coaches Chantal Forristal and Maciek Gebczyski were named OUA Coaches of the Year. 
 
The Women's team MVP for this season is Justine Bryson 
 
The Men's team also got off to a hot start, securing a pair of wins of their own over Brock and Waterloo to open up the season. The 'Stangs continued their winning streak, taking home 7-0 and 6-1 wins over McMaster and Toronto before two 7-0 wins over Ottawa and York closed things out before OUAs. 
 
At the OUA Championship, Western took home their fourth straight gold. The Mustangs topped the Waterloo Warriors in group play 6-1 to earn a spot in the Gold Medal match against the Varsity Blues. Western dropped 2 of 3 doubles matches, as Toronto took the doubles point and held the advantage. In the singles matches, Toronto took the #1 & #5 matches with Brisbois Espinoza & Lawson Cross falling 7-5 ,6-4 & 6-0, 6-1 respectively. Western's Ashton Cross dropped the 1st set of his match but won the 2nd and 3rd sets 6-2 & 6-3 to secure a point for Western. Ray Xie & Aidan Zia dominated their matches 6-0,6-0 & 6-2, 6-2 to add two more points to the total as the teams sat tied 3-3 overall. In the deciding match, Ethan Milavsky won the first set 6-4 but dropped the second set 7-5. In the 3rd set Milavsky powered his way to a 7-5 win, securing the championship for Western. 
 
Aidan Zia was named OUA Rookie of the Year, while Glenn Brisbois and Ethan Milavsky were named OUA All-Stars. Coaches Cameron Cross and Anthony Glavanic were awarded OUA Coaches of the Year. 
 
The Men's team MVP for this season is Ashton Cross
 
Bronze W recipients are: Lawson Cross, Abby Currie, Katelyn Currie, Riya Kaur, Ethan Milavsky and Daniela Todorov 

Graduating Ring recipients are: Ethan Milavsky and Ron Singer

Congratulations to all those being recognized this season for their outstanding work representing the Mustangs.