The Prairie View A&M University Panthers tennis team finished the season with a bang dominating the Southwestern Athletic Conference winning its 21st crown on Sunday at City Park and Pepsi Tennis in New Orleans, La.
“Beating teams earlier in the year, I knew that we would have a price on our head and teams would be looking out to beat us,” said head coach John Cochran. “The men were really hungry and did not want to let up and took it all the way.”
The 21 championship titles are the most by any team in the SWAC. In addition, the Panthers picked up their second title in four years after winning the 2010 tournament. Not stopping there freshman Jackson Varney exceeded expectations taking top spot as SWAC Player of the Year.
In the championship doubles match senior Karim Fotso and senior SWAC most valuable player Ronald Chidzikwe dominated the Alcorn State Braves, winning their match 8-3, Varney and junior Craig Wiltz followed the trend, beating Alcorn 8-2.
Prairie View had Alcorn on the ropes in the singles competition. SWAC Tournament MVP, Chidzikwe defeated Amor of Alcorn during the No. 4 singles match-up. Chidzikwe picked up the win in two sets with scores of 6-0, 6-2.
Going 7-0 in SWAC, Prairie View men’s tennis team had an amazing year. “The team effort presented by the men was a great sight to see, the men’s determination throughout the year was something I could not ask for more as a coach,” said Cochran.
The men now look forward to regional and exceeding the first round to bring the NCAA title home.
Prarie View A&M
Tuesday, June 24, 2025