ELLISVILLE - An intense doubles battle resulted in a win for Gabriel Koonce and Cole Stoddard, despite a 5-1 Northwest loss to top-seeded Jones College on Friday.

Koonce and Stoddard fought to a 9-8 win at No. 3 doubles against Ridge Jones and Reese Touchet, but the Bobcats took the remaining two doubles matches and jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the match.

Losses at the first two singles positions put Northwest into a 4-1 deficit and Jones College clinched the match with a victory at No. 5 singles.

With the loss, the Rangers fell to 11-5 overall and will battle Itawamba on Saturday afternoon for the third place match. The winner gets an automatic bid to the upcoming NJCAA Men's Tennis Championships, but the losing team will also more likely be in line for an at-large bid.


APRIL 25, 2025
NJCAA Region 23 Championships - Semifinals
#1 Jones College 5, #4 Northwest 1
Bobcat Tennis Courts /// Ellisville, Miss.

Men's Doubles
1. Thomas Garrett/Matias Ruiz (JC) def. Luca Morris/Joshua Tedford (NWCC), 8-2
2. Diego Castellanos/Alex Holder (JC) def. Holden Cooke/Miguel Lazaga Robayna (NWCC), 8-2
3. Gabriel Koonce/Cole Stoddard (NWCC) def. Ridge Jones/Reese Touchet (JC), 9-8 (5)

Men's Singles
1. Matias Ruiz (JC) def. Luca Morris (NWCC) 6-0, 6-1
2. Thomas Garrett (JC) def. Miguel Lazaga Robayna (NWCC) 6-0, 6-0
3. Diego Castellanos (JC) vs. Holden Cooke (NWCC) 6-1, 4-1, susp.
4. Alex Holder (JC) vs. Cole Stoddard (NWCC) 6-4, 2-0, susp.
5. Ridge Jones (JC) def. Brady Holliman (NWCC) 6-1, 6-0
6. Luke Westmoreland (JC) vs. Gabriel Koonce (NWCC) 6-1, 5-1, susp.