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The TJC Apaches are back on top of the tennis world.

The Tyler Junior College men’s tennis team is the NJCAA national champions for the 18th time.

It is also the 69th national championship in TJC school athletic program history.

After a near week of competition in Plano and McKinney, the Apaches won the national crown on Friday with 46 points, followed by defending national champion Cowley (Kansas) with 44 points. Eastern Florida State finished third with 39.

TJC’s Dash Connell was named Coach of the Year, while assistant coaches Micah Avance and Chris Singer were also honored.

The Apaches won individual national championships in four singles competition — Flight 3 (No. 1 seed Alex Despoja), Flight 4 (No. 2 seed Dan Persson), Flight 5 (No. 1 seed Faiz Nasyam) and Flight 6 (No. 1 seed Daniel Borisov).

In doubles, TJC finished on top in Flight 2 (No. 2 seeds Doni Gashi and Persson) and runner-up in Flight 1 singles (No. 2 seed Juan Carlos Garcia).

After four victories in singles, the Apaches led Cowley 45-43. TJC had one doubles entry in the finals with Cowley in all three.

When TJC team of Gashi and Persson defeated No. 4 seeds Pedro De La Riva and Valentin Greco, 6-4, 6-2, in Flight 2 doubles, the Apaches clinched the national championship.

Earning first-team All-America in singles include: Borisov, Despoja, Naysam and Persson. Juan Carlos Garcia was second-team All-America.

Persson earned All-America in singles and doubles. Gashi was All-America in doubles.

Members of the TJC squad include: Samer Al Tori, Daniel Borisov, Matthew Browning. Jacopo Cianfarini, Alex Despoja, Juan Carlos Garcia, Calvin Golmei, Doni Gashi, Faiz Naysam, Dan Persson, and Ja’Sydney Jackson (Student Athletic Trainer).

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Flight 1 Singles

Championship — No. 1 Hugo Carr, Eastern Florida State, def. Juan Carlos Garcia, TJC, 6-4, 7-5.

Flight 2 Singles

Championship — No. 2 Reiya Komagata, Cowley (Kansas) def. No. 1 Gabriel Garay, Barton (Kansas), 6-3, 6-0.

Flight 3 Singles

Championship — No. 1 Alex Despoja, TJC, def. No. 2 Nick Devivo, Eastern Florida State, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Flight 4 Singles

Championship — No. 2 Dan Persson vs. No. 1 Tomas Quesada Perez, Eastern Florida State, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Flight 5 Singles

Championship — No. 1 Faiz Nasyam def. No. 2 Tadeo Gaggiofatto, Cowley (Kansas), 7-5, 6-0.

Flight 6 Singles

Championship — No. 1 Daniel Borisov vs. No. 2 Alejandro Gonzalez, Cowley (Kansas), 6-1, 7-5.

Flight 1 Doubles

Semifinals — No. 1 Reiya Komagata-Bruno Nhavene, Cowley (Kansas) def. No. 5 Samuel Antwi-Cem Atlamis, Seward (Kansas), 7-6 (5), 6-4; Amen Prince Gandonou-Hod-Abalo Isak Padio, Iowa Central, def. No. 7 Charlie Brady-Matias Ruiz, Jones (Mississippi), 6-4, 3-6, 10-5.

Championship — Gandonou-Padio def. Komagata-Nhavene, 6-4, 6-7 (9), 10-9.

Flight 2 Doubles

Semifinals — No. 2 Doni Gashi-Dan Persson, TJC, def. No. 3 Gabriel Garay-Shane Tapera, Barton (Kansas), 6-3, 6-1; No. 4 Pedro De La Riva-Valentin Greco, Cowley (Kansas), def. No. 1 Nick Devivo-Colin Tavares, Eastern Florida State, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Championship — Gashi-Persson def. De La Riva-Greco, 6-4, 6-2.

Flight 3 Doubles

Semifinals — No. 1 Alejandro Gonzalez-Omar Suarez, Cowley (Kansas), def. No. 4 Samer Al Tori-Calvin Golmei, TJC, 2-6, 6-4, 10-7; No. 2 Alexandr Achour-Tomas Quesada Perez, Eastern Florida State, def. No. 3 Enrique Doldan Sisa-Luke Stula Takumi, Collin, 6-3, 6-4.

Championship — Gonzalez-Suarez def. Achour-Perez, 3-6, 7-5, 10-8.