Matias Ruiz Makes History For Jones College With National Championship

Jones College’s Matias Ruiz made history Friday morning in the NJCAA Men’s Division I Tennis Tournament in Florence, South Carolina.

Ruiz defeated Seward College’s Samuel Antwi in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 battle to claim the No. 1 singles title, which is the first time in Division I tennis where a Jones or MACCC player won the national championship.

Beginning in the Round of 16, Matias Ruiz emerged as the No. 3 seed for the tournament. He began his extraordinary run with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Vicenta Faria of Mississippi Gulf Coast. He followed up in the Quarterfinals with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Eastern Florida’s Alexandr Achour.

Ruiz then continued his momentum to take down the No. 2 seed Alex Despoja of Tyler Junior College in Texas by a score of 6-3, 6-1. The sophomore from Buenos Aries, Argentina clinched himself a spot in the championship after three impressive victories against tough competition.

Ruiz then went on to defeat Antwi to cap off his monumental championship run. The MACCC Player of the Year has also signed with Mississippi College to continue his career.

In total, the Jones Bobcats finished 12^th overall with 18.5 points in the tournament. Tyler Junior College came away with the tournament title with 42 points.

Ruiz also played doubles with Tom Garrett as the sixth-seeded duo, going on to win the consolation round title.

Author administrator Kellen Walker