Rider Tennis Wins First MAAC Title, Heads to NCAA Tournament
After years of falling short, Rider University's men's tennis team made history by capturing their first-ever conference championship and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Cole Thurgur capped off a perfect 16-0 season to lead the Broncs past top-seeded Marist.
One year after a heartbreaking championship loss, Rider University's men's tennis team turned disappointment into fuel and made program history on April 26, 2026.
The Broncs defeated top-seeded Marist 4-1 to claim their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. It was a moment decades in the making for a program that had never reached college tennis's biggest stage.
Rider came out firing in doubles play. First-year Heath Paul Waters teamed with junior Ibragim Turgambekov for a 6-2 victory, then senior Roger Martinez and sophomore Axel Engstrom clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win.
When Marist evened the match with a singles win, the Broncs didn't flinch. Sophomore Cole Thurgur dominated at the No. 1 spot with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory. Matteus Froberg Dahlin followed with a 6-1, 6-4 win to put Rider one point away from history.
Three remaining matches all went to decisive third sets, with tension building on every court. Senior Nathan Slattery seized control of his match, breaking serve early and winning three straight games to clinch the championship for the Broncs.
Why This Inspires
Last year's championship defeat could have broken this team's spirit. Instead, Head Coach Tim Koch watched his players channel that pain into purpose throughout the offseason.
"It hit us hard, but the heart that these guys showed was incredible," Koch said. "They used it as motivation for the offseason, worked hard every day and continued to improve."
That dedication showed in Thurgur's remarkable season. The sophomore finished 16-0 in dual matches and earned both MAAC Tournament MVP and MAAC Player of the Year honors, never losing when his team needed him most.
The victory represents more than just a trophy. It's proof that setbacks can become springboards when a team refuses to give up on each other or their dream.
Rider learned their NCAA Tournament opponent on April 27, ready to make noise on college tennis's biggest stage.
Based on reporting by Google News - Championship Win
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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