Grinnell 5, Cornell 0
Grinnell 5, Lawrence 0

MADISON, Wis. – Grinnell College, already rich in tennis history, added to that tradition Friday as the Pioneers claimed their 16th consecutive Midwest Conference men's title at Nielsen Tennis Center.
 
Along with the title came the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III National Tournament, Grinnell's13th trip in a row to the event.
 
The top-seeded Pioneers opened the day with a 5-0 victory over Cornell College and followed up with an identical score in the title match against Lawrence University. Grinnell improved to 25-4 with the win, with that victory total matching the fourth-highest in program history. Grinnell has now won 17 of the past 18 MWC crowns and 21 overall, matching Carleton College for the league lead in league titles.
 
By beating both teams, Grinnell ran its winning streak against league foes to 155 matches dating back to 2003. In the win over Lawrence, Grinnell swept through doubles play with the teams of Bowen Mince '22-Ben Cobin '20 (8-6), Sam Stickels '19-Michael Conlin-Brandenburg '21 (8-3) and Zach Lane '19-George Kaslow '21 (8-1). The Pioneers clinched the win as Ishaan Tibrewal '21 won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6 singles and Lane added a 6-1, 6-2 decision at the top spot.
 
Earlier in the day against Cornell, doubles wins came from the duos of Mince-Cobin (8-1), Stickels-Conlin-Brandenburg (8-0) and Jack Lunn '20-Tibrewal (8-1). Clinching the win were Conlin-Brandenburg by a 6-0, 6-0 score at No. 4 singles and Tibrewal by a 6-0, 6-1 count at No. 6.
 
Cobin now ranks 15th at Grinnell for career doubles wins with 65, while Lane moved up to 21st with 56. In the season doubles victories category, Lane is 16th this year with 24 wins and Stickels and Conlin-Brandenburg are tied for 22nd with 23 each.
 
The MWC Tourney continues Saturday with singles play and concludes Sunday with doubles.