Glendale's Badon wins singles title at National ITA Cup
ROME, Georgia - Glendale Community College's (CA) tennis prodigy Jean-Baptiste Badon etched his name in the annals of collegiate tennis history, delivering a stellar performance at the National ITA Cup in Georgia from October 13th to October 16th. The rising star left an indelible mark, clinching both the singles and doubles titles, and securing a wild card entry into the highly anticipated Fall National Division 1 Championships in San Diego.
Badon, seeded first in the Juco singles draw, displayed an impressive showcase of skill and determination, culminating in a remarkable victory. His journey commenced on Friday, October 13th, with a commanding win over Sohmer, Arne from Copiah-Lincoln CC in the quarterfinals, with a final score of 6-3, 6-2. On the following day, he continued his triumph, defeating Persson, Dan from Tyler Jr. College in the semifinals with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 victory.
The finals proved to be an intense battle, with Badon facing off against Hugo Car from Eastern Florida State College. After an exhilarating match, Badon emerged victorious with a final score of 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, becoming the first-ever California Community College player to claim the Juco singles title in the history of the tournament.
The triumph didn't end there for Badon, as he seamlessly transitioned to the Super Bowl draw, competing against Division 2, Division 3, and NAIA champions. Demonstrating unparalleled skill and resilience, he conquered the challenges in the semifinals, defeating Division 2 Champion Baptiste Mercier from Flagler College with a close 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 win. In the final showdown, he faced off against the formidable NAIA Champion Perry Gregg from Holy Cross College/Notre Dame, ultimately securing the title with a gripping 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4 victory.
Badon's exceptional performance not only crowned him the first California Community College player to conquer the Super Bowl but also solidified his position as the nation's best player among Division 2, Division 3, and NAIA. His well-deserved wild card entry into the Fall National Division 1 Championships has set the stage for a thrilling display of talent at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego from November 1st to November 5th. “The conditions were very challenging. I still cannot believe that I was able to do all this in such a short amount of time. I’m looking forward to competing in San Diego and start the season with my teammates.” Said Badon. JB added, “All of my coaches played a huge part in this win. Coach Chris (Tissot, GCCs Head Men’s Tennis coach), has been so instrumental in helping me physically and mentally compete in each match… my parents are overwhelmed about my performance, they have been so supportive thorough my career.”
Additionally, Glendale Community College, CA made history on the doubles front, as both Jean-Baptiste Badon with Lance Morgan and Adam Ridaoui with Tory Bailey secured berths in the ITA National Tournament, marking the first time in the college's history that two doubles teams qualified.
Although Badon and Morgan faced an initial setback, losing to Achour and Car from Eastern Florida State College, they bounced back impressively to claim victory in the 5th place draw finals against Silveira and Sonntag from American River College. Simultaneously, Ridaoui and Bailey showcased their resilience, securing a triumphant 5th place draw victory over Ojeda and Hiss from Meridian Comm. College after an intense battle, setting the stage for an exciting all-Glendale College final.
As the highly anticipated final showdown between the two Glendale College doubles teams looms, tennis enthusiasts and fans eagerly await the thrilling conclusion of the ITA National Tournament, celebrating the remarkable achievements of Glendale College's outstanding tennis program.
(Glendale College/ITA)