Pearson Wins Singles Title at ITA Central Regional Championships

Monday, October 28

Norman, Okla.

12:00 PM

Tulsa

ITA Central Regional Championships

Photo by: Bill Powell

Pearson Wins Singles Title at ITA Central Regional Championships

10/28/2019 5:42:00 PM | Men's Tennis

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Tulsa men's tennis sophomore Kody Pearson was crowned the ITA Central Regional Singles Champion on Monday afternoon, as he defeated Stefan Milicevic from Minnesota 6-3, 6-1. The Golden Hurricane were among 16 teams from the Central Region that competed in the championships at the Headington Family Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Oklahoma.

The third seed in the tournament, Pearson secured a spot in the championship match by knocking off Kareem Allaf of Iowa, the 2018 ITA Central Regionals Single Champion and second-seed, in the semifinals on Sunday (7-6(6), 6-2). He then faced Milicevic, who was seeded fourth.

Pearson becomes the fourth Golden Hurricane to win the singles regional championship, and the first in over a decade. He joins TU men's tennis alums Gareth Williams ('97), Alejandro Tejerina ('02), and Arnau Brugues ('08). After starting the season 0-2, Pearson has won six straight, including a pair of ranked matches for a 6-2 overall mark.

With the win, Pearson will represent TU in the 2019 Oracle ITA National Fall Championships. The fall championships begin Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Newport Beach Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif.

Road to Championship
Round of 64: #96 Kody Pearson (Tulsa) def. Alex Richards (Wichita State) 7-5, 6-2
Round of 32: #96 Kody Pearson (Tulsa) def. Luke Hammond (Oklahoma State) 6-3, 6-4
Round of 16: #96 Kody Pearson (Tulsa) def. Siim Troost (Minnesota) 6-1, 6-7(1), 7-5

56955 — Pearson (left) def. Milicevic (right) 6-3, 6-1 to win
ITA Central Regional Singles Championship.

Quarterfinals: #96 Kody Pearson (Tulsa) def. Stefano Tsorotiotis (Oklahoma) 6-2, 6-4
Semifinals: #96 Kody Pearson (Tulsa) def. #69 Kareem Allaf (Iowa) 7-6(6), 6-2
Championship: #96 Kody Pearson (Tulsa) def. #93 Stefan Milicevic (Minnesota) 6-3, 6-1