Goshen College hosted the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s NAIA regional tournament from Wednesday through Friday. While none of the Maple Leafs won any of the events, GC finished runner-up in three of the four competitions.

This is the first time that GC has hosted the event, which is one of the most important tournaments of the year for the Leafs. Winners from the regional ITA tournaments travel to Rome, Georgia for the national tournament.

“It’s a huge deal to be able to host it, and for us to have the facilities to host,” Jon Bemisderfer, head coach for men’s and women’s tennis said.

“Typically when you go to these events, not everyone would get to travel,” Bemisderfer said. This is not true of events held in Goshen, however. “Everyone gets a chance to play,” he said.

Four GC athletes received runner-up at the tournament: Sara Nino and Vishmi Serasinghe for women’s doubles, Iago Ciucio for men’s singles and Uliana Dotsenko for women’s singles.

Bemisderfer said that he was proud of his team for their success. “I think it was a really good showing,” he said. “If you make it to the semifinals, then even if you lose, you still have a chance to qualify for the national event. You can apply for at-large bids.”

The Leafs’ at-large bids were rejected last year, but the team’s standing has improved significantly since then. Most notably, the team is nationally ranked.

The team’s name recognition has also increased since last year. Part of that boost is from hosting ITA. “We had people coming in from all around the area to watch. … It was really, really good to have that exposure,” Bemisderfer said.

Dotsenko agreed. “I think more players, more coaches will know Goshen because we are hosting ITA,” she said.

Dotsenko herself had a name recognition boost because of ITA. In addition to coming in second for women’s singles, she also made it to the semifinals for women’s doubles with her partner Marin Kawano.

“I think it was just the best ITA we’ve ever had,” Dotsenko said. “Four players in the final. It’s huge.”

Dotsenko said that the most significant part of ITA being at home was the fans. “They’re always coming to watch the games, they’re always screaming. … They always have my back,” Dotsenko said.

Both Dotsenko and Bemisderfer said the new tennis courts helped their team as well.

“They’re amazing. Literally amazing,” Dotsenko said. “I love the color, the feeling is amazing. You don’t feel any cracks.”

Bemisderfer says the comm-unity is also more willing to see tennis matches with the newer courts. One example he gave was Stan King, the namesake of the new courts.

“He comes and watches practices now. First three years that I was here, I never saw the guy. Now he’s here on a semi-regular basis, which is great,” said Bemisderfer. “I love having him around, and he knows all the players, they know him, and he’s here for most of our home matches.”

The community is accepting the Leafs tennis teams, and they are embracing each other.

“I love my team,” Dotsenko said.