Eastern Florida State College men's tennis player Pablo Garcia will compete for a national title on Thursday at the NJCAA Division I National Championships in Plano, Texas. The sophomore from EFSC advanced to the final by defeating No. 2 seed Ander Huelamo 6-2, 6-0 in a semifinal match on Wednesday. Garcia said the victory was hard-earned but said he is ready for the final.
Garcia, who is playing in his second year at EFSC, dominated the match from the start. He took the first set 6-2 and then won the second set 6-0. The win sets up a final match against No. 1 seed Kenta Kawada from Pratt Community College, who defeated No. 4 seed Wojciech Biela 6-1, 7-6 in the other semifinal.
Kawada, a senior from Pratt Community College, has been a top contender all season. He has won 18 matches this year and has a 9-1 record in the tournament. Garcia said he knows Kawada is a strong opponent but is confident in his own game.
Garcia, who is majoring in business administration at EFSC, has been training for the tournament since January. He practices five days a week and has been working with his coach, David Smith, to prepare for the final.
The final match will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Plano Tennis Center. It will be broadcast live on the NJCAA's website and social media platforms. The event is free to the public, and fans are encouraged to attend.
EFSC's men's tennis program has produced several national champions in recent years. The team has won three national titles since 2015, and Garcia is the first player from the college to reach the final in his second year.