Buckeyes Beat Michigan 4-1 to Win Big Ten Tournament Title
4/28/2024 4:55:00 PM | Men's Tennis
This was Ohio State’s second consecutive tournament title and the 17th overall
For the 17th time in program history, THE Ohio State is the Big Ten Tournament Champion!! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/neoLPlepqS
— Ohio State M Tennis (@OhioStateMTEN) April 28, 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State’s reign at the top of the Big Ten is secure for another season as the Buckeyes took down rival Michigan 4-1 on Sunday afternoon to claim the Big Ten Tournament title.
The win is the 30th of the season for the Buckeyes and it gives Ohio State its 17th Big Ten Tournament title in program history.
This was also the third win this season for the Buckeyes over Michigan and it improves their record over their rivals to 37-5 since Ty Tucker took over in 2000.
After losing the doubles point in the semifinals on Saturday, the Buckeyes wasted little time in securing the crucial doubles point on Sunday. Cannon Kingsley and Jack Anthrop raced out early and rolled to a 6-1 victory on court three. Justin Boulais and Andrew Lutschaunig broke at 3-2 and then held that advantage to a 6-3 win on court two to clinch the point. Robert Cash and JJ Tracy were leading the marquee match on court one 5-3 as well.
Two of the six courts were unfit for play so just the top four singles matches started first. Like he has all season, Jack Anthrop won, and won quick. He took care of Patorn Hanchaikul 6-1, 6-0 to quickly make it 2-0 Buckeyes. Kingsley wasn’t too far behind with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jacob Bickersteth on court two.
Michigan got on the board with a win on court one, but it wouldn’t affect the outcome that seemed to already be decided. JJ Tracy took the opening set over Bjorn Swenson 6-3 and took a 4-0 lead in the second. Swenson showed a little heart in pushing the set into a tiebreak, but it was all Tracy in the breaker. He took a 5-2 lead and would win 7-4, giving the Buckeyes the title.
Tracy claimed a pair of singles wins on the weekend and on the strength of him providing the clinching the in the championship match, was named the tournaments Most Outstanding Player.
The final two matches got started on courts two and four and Cash and Alexander Bernard both won their opening sets before the match was clinched. Bernard was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Buckeyes will likely be the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, which starts next weekend. Ohio State will host the opening two rounds, which starts on Friday. The NCAA Selection Show is set for Monday night at 6 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.
#1 Ohio State 4, Michigan 1
Singles
1. #19 Gavin Young (MICH) def. #33 Justin Boulais (OSU) 6-1, 6-4
2. #18 Cannon Kingsley (OSU) def. Jacob Bickersteth (MICH) 6-3, 6-1
3. #16 JJ Tracy (OSU) def. Bjorn Swenson (MICH) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
4. #29 Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) 6-1, 6-0
5. Alexander Bernard (OSU) vs. Will Cooksey (MICH) 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
6. Robert Cash (OSU) vs. Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) 6-2, 0-1, unfinished
Doubles
1. #2 Robert Cash/JJ Tracy (OSU) vs. # 17 Gavin Young/Jacob Bickersteth (MICH) 5-3, unfinished
2. #35 Andrew Lutschaunig/Justin Boulais (OSU) def. Patorn Hanchaikul/Will Cooksey 6-3
3. Cannon Kingsley/Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. Mert Oral/Bjorn Swenson (MICH) 6-1
Match Notes:
Michigan 16-12
Ohio State 30-1; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,2,1,3)
Big Ten Tournament
T-2:40
#GoBucks
