Oct. 11, 2002

Chattanooga, Tenn. – Sophomore Jesse Witten and junior Karim Benmansour were defeated Friday in the consolation bracket of the 2002 Icy Hot/ITA Men’s All-American Championships. Witten, after being upset in the first round of the main draw couldn’t get past Illinois’ Brian Wilson in the second round while Benmansour fell in the first round to Florida’s Oliver Levant.

Benmansour played four matches – two singles and two doubles – on Thursday and couldn’t muster up enough energy to get past the 92nd-ranked Levant. He lost 6-4, 7-5.

Witten won his first round match in the consolation bracket, a 7-6(4), 6-3 decision over Tulsa’s Dustin Taylor. He moved on to the second round Friday evening against Wilson, ranked 25th and the No. 16 seed in the main draw. After winning the first set 6-3, Witten fell down a break in the second and third sets and Wilson got the victory 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Next up for the Cats will be the Region 3 Indoor Championships, held Oct. 25-28 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex. The team tournament will feed into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships held in Louisville in February.

Friday’s Results

Singles Consolation – First Round

Jesse Witten def. Dustin Taylor (Tulsa) – 7-6(4), 6-3
Oliver Levant (Florida) def. Karim Benmansour – 6-4, 7-5

Singles Consolation – Second Round
Brian Wilson (Illinois) def. Jesse Witten – 3-6, 6-4, 6-4