Gamecocks Head West for ITA All-American Championships

Tulsa, Okla.  – South Carolina men’s tennis will continue fall competition in Tulsa, Okla., at the ITA All-American Championships. The event will begin with Pre-Qualifying Oct. 1-2, Qualifying Oct. 3-4, and the Main Draw Oct. 5-9.

The event will be held at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Tulsa and at the Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park in Tulsa, Okla.

Pre-Qualifying rounds will begin with a draw of 256 players from across the country. The Gamecocks will have five players starting in the pre-qualifying. James Story, Jake Beasley, Casey Hoole, Lucas da Silva, and Carter Morgan will all battle for one of 16 spots available in the qualifying rounds.

Junior Connor Thomson will begin his journey in the Qualifying that will shrink the draw to 128 players. Thomson earned an automatic qualification into the draw based on his preseason national ranking of No. T-89.

Junior Toby Samuel will kick off competition in the main draw beginning on Oct. 5. The No. 37 player in the country will enter the tournament undefeated on the season after having won his draw at the Commodore Invitational in Nashville, Tenn., at the team’s last outing.

Samuel and Thomson will also enter into the main draw of the doubles competition. The duo has a preseason ranking of No. 37 and are so far undefeated on the season through one tournament.

Also in the doubles competition are Story and Beasley. The pair are currently listed as the fifth qualifying doubles alternate with the possibility of being upgraded to the doubles qualifying draw.

Qualifying doubles begins with a draw of 64 with 32 moving on to the doubles main draw. Draws are constantly updating and the most up-to-date draws can be found on the ITA Tournament Webpage.

Samuel, Thomson, and Story all will make their second appearance at the tournament in as many years. Samuel and Thomson have each made appearances in the main draw previously while Story and the rest of the Gamecocks are in search of their first.

For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).