DANVILLE, Ky. – After kicking off the 2023 season last week against two Intercollegiate Tennis Association-ranked teams out east in Virginia, the Centre men's tennis team (0-4) faced off against the Denison Big red on Saturday morning. Denison, being the no. 12-ranked team in Division III, had several close battles with the Gold & White during the match, but Centre would eventually fall on an 8-1 final score.
 
Centre would start the contest hot, Ty Bush and Bo Bush taking down Denison's no. 1 doubles team in a dominant 8-3 score. The win marked the duo's first victory together of the season, slotted as the top doubles team in the lineup throughout the young season. The Colonels would fight in the other two doubles series that went on, but Denison would both overcome Ben Rueff and Jasper Gazzo (no. 2) 8-4 and the team of Faraz Ghamgosar and jett Anderson (no. 3) 8-3.
 
The Big Red would sweep the singles matches, but not without a handful of tight contests from the Colonels. Bo Bush started off strong in his three-set match at the no. 3 spot of the lineup, but his opponent's strong finish took him down 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Ty Bush put together a pun-for-punch second set against his no. 2 opponent, the final result ended 6-1, 7-5. Rueff had a close first second as the team's no. 5, but his opponent ran hot in end on a 6-4, 6-0. Anderson would play in a 6-3, 6-0 duel at the no. 4, Gazzo ending his no. 6 match in the 6-2, 6-1 series. Ghamgosar was the final series to conclude, ending in a 6-0, 6-0 final score in the no. 1 spot of the lineup.
 
The Colonels will wrap up the weekend and prepare for their handful of contests next week, first being against Campbellsville on Wednesday, Feb. 22. That inner-state matchup is set to start at 4:30 p.m. ET.