The men’s tennis team has had a rough time this season.

After losing their No. 1 senior singles player Jason Smith, the Blugolds are battling back from their loss.

But Smith is not the only member the men have lost in recent years.

Since long time coach Felipe Teixeira’s last season in 1998, the men have been juggling the teachings of coach after coach.

But the team has seemingly found a coach to fill Teixeira’s shoes: Tracy Saloka, who is in his second year of coaching the Blugolds.

Adding to the loss on the team were the two freshmen recruited to play, but when the season came around were unable to play.

Putting the loss aside, the men began the season battling St. John’s University (Minn.) and two Div. II schools, Michigan Tech and St. Cloud State University (Minn.). But the Blugolds could not pull out a win during the weekend.

Their first win came last weekend during their trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The men began the weekend with a 6-1 win over Cornell College (Iowa) Friday night. During the dual, freshman Matt Widder pulled out a tough win in three sets. After losing the first set 1-6, Widder battled back into the match and won the next two sets 6-2, 6-3.

The Blugold’s only loss came at No. 1, with junior Joe Johnston who lost in two sets 6-2, 7-6.

“We knew they would be the weakest team we played during the weekend,” sophomore Ryan Gruhlke said.

Next the Blugolds took on Carthage College (Iowa).

The men went into this match with high hopes.

“It was a close match last year 4-3, so we were pretty enthusiastic about this year,” Gruhlke said.

But the Blugolds came out with a 6-1 loss.

Gruhlke was the only win for the men at No. 3 singles. He defeated his Carthage opponent 6-4, 6-3.

The Blugolds lost the rest of their matches with none reaching three sets.

After suffering the loss to Carthage, the ‘Golds turned around and took on Coe College (Iowa).

According to Gruhlke, Coe is ranked nationally and is among the top seven in the region.

“We knew they would be a challenge,” he said.

The men were challenged by Coe but in the end could not pull out a win and lost 7-0.

Only Gruhlke took the match to three sets but lost in a third set tie-breaker 7-5, 5-7, 7-6.

“I had one of the best weekends ever,” Gruhlke said. “I played like I had nothing to lose.”

The men, now 1-5, will face Hamline University at 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul.