Four Cornell men’s tennis players wrapped up a strong weekend at Penn State’s Holmes Cathrall Memorial Invitational, each finishing with a 3-1 singles record. The balanced showing capped Cornell’s final fall tune-up on a high note and showcased standout performances from freshmen Rethin Pranav Senthil Kumar and Jack Casciato, who continue to make an early impact in their first collegiate season.
Kumar notched three singles victories, highlighted by straight-set wins over two Penn State opponents and a gritty comeback against a Florida competitor, in which he rallied after dropping the opening set. His only loss came in a narrow third-set tiebreaker against Columbia.
Casciato mirrored that success with three singles wins of his own — including wins over players from Columbia and Navy — to secure his first collegiate victories in a Cornell uniform.
“It was definitely an improvement from the previous tournament at Harvard,” Casciato said. “I think I pushed my game better, mentally and physically.”
Casciato credited a sharper mindset for what fueled his rapid improvement.
“I think the biggest improvement is mental,” he said. “Compared to the first match of that tournament, I was much better at handling the tight and tougher moments and being more physical.”
Kumar echoed that focus on mentality, emphasizing the adjustment to the college level.
“The jump to college tennis has definitely been a new experience,” Kumar said. “The level is higher, and everyone’s tougher mentally. I’ve learned how important consistency and focus are.”
Both freshmen pointed to strong team chemistry as a driving factor.
“The team energy’s been amazing,” Kumar said. “Everyone’s supporting each other, training hard, and it’s just a really good vibe overall.”
Casciato agreed: “I love the guys. I just love spending time around them.”
Cornell finished the weekend with twelve singles wins and three doubles victories against a competitive field that included Florida, Columbia, Navy, Buffalo and host Penn State. Kumar teamed with senior Petar Teodorovic for a pair of doubles wins, while Casciato and fellow freshman Nathan Gold, who are roommates as well as partners on the court, added a close victory over a Penn State duo.
The performances of Kumar and Casciato especially stood out to head coach Silviu Tanasoiu, who praised the freshmen for their growth and composure throughout the weekend.
“It was encouraging to see Jack Casciato notching his first wins as a Cornellian,” Tanasoiu said. “Rethin Kumar showed some strides since his arrival on campus and continues to improve with each event.”
Casciato said that one moment in particular stood out from the weekend — his singles win over Columbia, which marked his first victory on the team.
“That was definitely meaningful,” Casciato said. “To get that first win as a Cornellian against Columbia, it was a good feeling. I was definitely happy about that.”
Looking ahead, Tanasoiu emphasized that the next step is sustaining that progress.
“Overall for us it is about establishing good, solid habits across the board,” Tanasoiu said. “Each player had four singles and four doubles matches that gave us a chance to nourish those habits. We have to stay focused on continuing to grow as a group.”
The Red now turns its attention to the ITA Northeast Regional Championships, which begin Friday, Oct. 10 at Harvard. The championship will be the team’s biggest test of the fall season before the Ivy League Tournament on Oct. 24.
Austin Curtis is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a Sun Staff Writer and can be reached at acurtis@cornellsun.com.
