A 3-6 start for Wichita State men’s tennis isn’t deterring the team from a successful spring season.
The Shockers, under fourth-year coach Darragh Glavin, have already faced multiple tough squads in Arizona State (9-1), Grand Canyon (6-1) and No. 10 Oklahoma (7-1) — all away from home.
They believe as home matches and conference foes crop up, the loaded nonconference slate will pay dividends. The lessons they learned will translate down the stretch as the American Conference Championship approaches.
“The lesson I took, and the whole squad has taken (from those matches), is we’re very close,” senior Luke Bracks said. “We were very close against Arizona State, which is one of the top teams in the country. We’re a very talented team this year. Probably one of the most talented I’ve been on.”
Wichita State, coming off its most successful season under Glavin and highest winning percentage since the 2021-22 campaign, wanted to challenge itself during the nonconference portion of the 2026 spring season. And with many good teams in the region, including the nationally ranked Sooners, it only made sense.
“We know we’re capable of that competition,” Glavin said. “So just scheduling that to try to set us up for good rankings and results.”
But a hard schedule so far has come with a cost.
The Shockers have fallen into a hole during five of their six losses in the doubles portion of a match. The ball just hasn’t been able to get rolling when singles matches come around. Another lesson learned for this year’s team.
“Honestly, we could’ve been 4-1 if we win some of those doubles points,” Glavin said. “We’re leading a lot of singles courts … (but) we could’ve had that doubles point and been close.”
Both players and coaches agree that this season’s roster is one of the most talented yet.
Five returning players — Zaid Al Mashni, Alejandro Jacome, Amir Milushev, Ilias Worthington and Bracks — have all weathered at least a season of collegiate tennis. Freshmen Felix Bockelmann-Evans, Rodrigo Cruz, James Lammas and Pablo Roche Alcaya round out the roster.
“We’ve had years where we knew we had to win maybe three or four courts to have a chance,” Glavin said. “Right now, we feel like we have a chance at every court that someone’s out there on. That’s been exciting.”
Bracks pointed to sophomores Al Mashni and Worthington as players who’ve stepped up their games since joining the program last season. And Bracks, a senior, thinks it’s exciting to see as his final year unfolds.
“I’ve seen Zaid, not just the last couple months but six months, improve a lot,” he said. “His level has improved tremendously since last season. Ilias as well. Ilias is playing good. His attitude’s better. His competitiveness is better.
“There’s been a lot of good players that are maybe playing a little rough right now. When they start playing well, we’ll have a very good team, for sure.”
For Bracks and fellow senior Jacome, leading by example and making the freshmen feel at home has been a priority.
“When they need something, I make sure I’m trying to be there,” Jacome said. “If they need help with school or other parts of life, on and off the court, I try to help as much as I can.”
That kind of leadership from upperclassmen is especially important for new players coming into a program and sport that’s dominated by an international scene. They come to a new country and have to adapt to a new way of life, culture and dynamics surrounding a team.
That’s where Bracks and Jacome’s veteran leadership comes in handy.
“That early on is pretty tough for new guys,” Glavin said.
As Wichita State continues finding its footing, the team knows the sky is the limit. And as home and conference matches start, the Shockers should find that form.
“We got a quality team, and our schedule is set up for success the rest of the year,” Glavin said. “(We just have to) take care of business and do the job we know we can do.”
The Shockers’ first home match is Sunday at 10 a.m. against UTSA at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex.
