April 10, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Men's Tennis celebrated their three graduating seniors on Tuesday in Santa Barbara, when the club hosted the Hope International Royals. In fitting fashion, Westmont's seniors all played a significant hand in an eventual 7-0 win.
 
Headlining Westmont's graduating class was captain Logan Thompson, who has been a staple of the program for four years. This season, Thompson has led the Warriors with nine singles victories, including a 6-2, 6-3 win over Yahia Elsheikh on Tuesday. Thompson will long be remembered, however, for his heroics in the 2023 GSAC Semifinals, when the captain won a court one super-tiebreaker to send the Warriors to their final GSAC Championship in program history.
 
When asked what he'll remember most about wearing a Westmont uniform, Thompson said, "All the moments I spent with the team. It's the small moments that are the best. It's the practices, the meals in-between, those are my favorite parts. It's definitely bittersweet to be finishing up my time here."
 
Thompson also contributed to Westmont earning the doubles point, when Thompson and teammate Owen Vander Ark defeated Ricky Lizardo and Mario Jimenez 6-2.
 
Thompson's longtime doubles partner, Ethan Ha, was the second senior being celebrated on Tuesday. Ha, who has been a dominant doubles partner with both Thompson and Austin Stone, will long be remembered for the contagious passion he brought to the program. Ha and Stone pulled off a 6-1 in in doubles on Tuesday, before Ha followed it up with a 6-0, 6-2 win in singles.
 
Ha, who often had a flair for the dramatic, will also be remembered for his role in the famous 2023 conference semi. If not for Ha's come-from-behind three-set win on court three, Arizona Christian would have clinched the win long before Thompson ever got a chance to win it.
 
Ha was asked the same question as Thompson, and took a moment before saying, "The practices, this beautiful location, and having the chance to meet so many amazing guys. I think of the players I've spent time with since my freshman year, like Matt Aleman, Joseph Hemry, Benny Saito, Santiago Tintore Ramon. I'll cherish those guys the same way I cherish my teammates now, as friends for life.
 
"It's just not my teammates, as well. There's been people outside of the tennis program that have been amazing additions to our team. I think of memories like having Jacob Norling in Arizona with us last year, cheering on us, and then days like today where so many friends and classmates come down and support what we do. I can't say thank you enough to this community for being there."
 
Westmont's final senior being remembered was Michael Hopkins, who has spent time in doubles alongside newcomer Goor Adiv. On Tuesday, Hopkins once again paired up with Adiv at number three doubles, and Hopkins walked off the court happy with a 6-1 win.
 
While Hopkins' lack of appearances may suggest he did not play a crucial role, those who have spent time around the program know that Hopkins is one of the heartbeats of Westmont Men's Tennis. This is due to the love he has for his teammates, which has been on display for each and every match of the last four years. 
 
"The guys," was Hopkins' answer when asked what he'd remember most. "The road trips, the quality time we've spent together, and obviously some big wins along the way. Having that lifelong bond with these guys is what's going to last forever.
 
"I could have never asked for a better team, coaching staff, or school to have played tennis at. It's been awesome."
 
Along with Thompson's and Ha's wins during singles, Austin Stone won it 6-3, 6-3 on one, Adiv won 7-6 (7), 6-4 on four, Vander Ark won 6-2, 6-1 on five, and Preston Hastings won 6-2, 6-1 on six.
 
"This was just a great day of celebration," said Westmont head coach Chris Elwood. "I challenged the team to dedicate this match to the seniors, and bring their best for those three players that played all four years here. From the get-go, we played a really high level of tennis today. It was a great day, with a great team effort, and I'm excited to build on this going into our final couple of matches this weekend."
 
Westmont's seniors, along with the rest of their teammates, will play their final matches this weekend in southern California. On Friday, Westmont will battle Biola in La Mirada, before taking on Point Loma in San Diego in the season finale.