The men’s ITA Tournament and Midwest Open is a weekend that allows new and old players to show coaches and competitors what to expect for the 2015 spring season.

And the UW-Eau Claire men’s tennis team was able to do just that over the weekend at Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) in St. Peter, Minn.

The Blugolds started the 2014-15 season right competing in both the ITA tournament and the Midwest open bracket.

Sophomore Conrad Felten went 5-1 in singles play to advance to the finals of his bracket.  Felten defeated Grinnell 6-2, 6-3, Hamline 6-0, 6-0, the host Gustavus Adolphus 6-1, 6-0 and won his semifinal match 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, before falling to Gabe Steinward of Gustavus 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Freshman Andrew Rust also impressed by advancing to the finals of his bracket in singles action.  Rust defeated players from Hamline 6-0, 6-0, St. Olaf 6-1, 6-1, his own teammate in sophomore Michael Mauthe 6-3, 6-2, and Carleton college 6-3, 7-6 before falling to Christian Beck of St. Olaf in the final 7-6, 6-0.

Mauthe was also strong on the day at 3-1, defeating players from Concordia-Moorhead 6-1, 6-0, Gustavus Adolphus college 6-1, 7-5 and Sam Cychosz of Luther 6-1, 6-1 before meeting his teammate Rust.

In doubles action the team of Rust and sophomore Will Weyenberg went 5-1 advancing to their bracket final.  Rust/Weyenberg defeated Concordia-Moorhead 8-0,UW-Whitewater 8-5, Bethel 8-6, UW-La Crosse 8-1 and Gustavus Adolphus 8-6 before losing their final match to Mauricio Gonzalez/Kevin Hurley of Carleton 1-6, 6-1, 10-8.

The ITA Regional/Midwest Open however, is the only fall action of 2014 for the Blugold men.  Their next match will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 when they host Wheaton College of Illinois.

Head coach Tom Gillman said that this was the team’s best tournament ever, and despite being young the team is getting much better.