MEET THE WILDCATS
DAISUKE FITIAL Graduate Student Beaverton, Oregon
blake fuentes gilbert Senior Manzanillo, Mexico
nick gabelman Sophomore Boise, Idaho
jorge idarreta Sophomore Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
seth lee Freshman Clackamas, Oregon
brook lerfald Freshman Eugene, Oregon
seamus miller Sophomore Tacoma, Washington
cody pickar Sophomore McMinnville, Oregon
alexander rosenquist Freshman Portland, Oregon
willy saiga Junior Tiburon, California
abraham solomon Sophomore Portland, Oregon
rogue stone Sophomore Clackamas, Oregon
matous young Junior San Anselmo, California
wyatt zagyva Freshman Hillsboro, Oregon
alex martin Head Coach First Year
2023 SEASON OUTLOOK
playing together as one
by joe stuart ’20Under new leadership with the hiring of interim head coach and program alum Alex Martin, the Linfield men’s tennis team is aiming to change its fortunes and get back in the mix in the Northwest Conference in 2023.
After going 3-12 last season, the Wildcats are taking a fresh approach under Martin, who served as assistant coach last year, as well as from 2005 to 2007 after completing his own decorated playing career in 2003.
Martin hopes to bring competitive energy and positive, team-first habits back to the program.
“Last year, I was able to see some of the fractures that were there. We’re getting everyone on the same page, getting all the guys to feel like they’re connected and together and part of one big team,” said Martin. “We’re focusing on the details – the tennis part is going to take care of itself. These guys are really talented.”
The Wildcats return several key contributors from last season, namely junior Matous Young and sophomores Rogue Stone, Cody Pickar and Nick Gabelman. All four competed in at least 10 matches in 2022.
Martin sees his returners as key building blocks moving forward should they keep improving.
“I have the benefit of last year with them,” said Martin. “So I know what they do well and where they struggle. We’ve been able to create game plans for them where ‘this is plan A, this is where we start and we can adjust from there, but this is what it should look like.’”
Martin says the returning Wildcats have also taken the lead of reestablishing a winning culture within the program. “They’ve shown up every day and they’ve been great leaders.
They’ve been great at not letting the team slip into issues that hampered us last year. They’ve done a great job in helping try to push us on to new heights.”
Another key returner is senior Blake Fuentes-Gilbert. He last played for Linfield in the 2021 season, and now returns to McMinnville after taking last year off. “Blake is someone who’s been through the battles,” said Martin. “He’s the only one who has experience beating a lot of the teams we play against.”
“We’re working on getting him healthy. He hasn’t been able to play in as many matches as he would like at this point, but he’s been at every practice and is just doing a great job of leading and setting the example of what it takes to be successful in this conference.”
Martin has already raised the bar for the talent level in the program, bringing in several standout transfers and freshman.
Junior Wilhelm Saiga joins the Wildcats from UC-Santa Barbara, and sophomore Seth Lee is a welcome addition from Portland State University.
The two Division I transfers have made instant impacts, with Saiga claiming the No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles and Lee deepening Linfield’s talent overall.
“Willy has come in and just been a rock at the top of the lineup. Seth has added a lot of stability in the middle of the lineup. But I just want them to get comfortable, get to know the guys and the guys to get to know them,” said Martin.
“These guys turned everything upside down to come see what we’re doing here and what we’re building. It’s been awesome to see them all mesh together.”
Two members of this year’s freshman class have both made early contributions: Brooks Lerfald of Eugene and Alexander Rosenquist from Portland.
“It’s been great seeing them acclimate themselves to the different pressures of different lines and take their lumps at some points, but also how they perform and really show what they’re capable of,” said Martin.
“Both are incredibly talented, both have big games and great weapons. Now it’s a matter of harnessing the weapons and using them in the right way so they’re as successful as possible.”
First-year coach Alex Martin is stressing team chemistry and camaraderie as vital first steps to climbing the NWC ladder
