Men's Tennis

Grade Average; Four Players Named ITA Scholar Athletes

BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin Wallace University men’s tennis team has been selected to the 2004 Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team and ranked third in the nation amongst Division III schools with a 3.56 cumulative grade point average.  In addition, Ward Crane (Hudson/ Western Reserve Academy), Alex Ison (Tallmadge), Brandon May (New Philadelphia) and Ryan McCartney (Lorain/ Admiral King) have been named ITA Scholar Athletes.  (To view the entire All-Academic Team and Scholar Athletes, please click here)

The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). All eligible student-athletes whose names appear on the NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA eligibility form and have competed in one or more varsity matches must average into the grade point average for the current academic year (including fall 2003 and spring 2004).

In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must be a varsity letter winner, have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters (including freshman thorough senior year).

BW was one of just 28 schools in Division III to be selected to the ITA All-Academic Team and the only OAC, NCAC or Ohio school to receive the award.  The Yellow Jackets completed the best season in school and OAC history with a perfect 22-0 record.  BW won both the OAC regular-season and OAC Tournament titles. 

Individually, Crane spent most of the season as the No. 2 singles player and finished with a 19-2 overall record and has a 44-13 career singles record.  He had a combined 15-2 doubles mark, including a 14-2 slate at No.1 doubles with fellow teammate and 2004 OAC Mark Lenssen Player of the Year, Mike Wagner (Avon Lake).  Crane is a two-time first-team All-OAC selection in 2003-2004 and earned Academic All-OAC At-Large player who carries a 3.64 grade average in business administration.

Alex Ison started at No.3 singles and No.2 doubles for the Yellow Jackets in 2003-2004.  He compiled a 13-1 record in singles, including a 10-1 mark at No.3 and a 3-0 slate at No.4.  In doubles, Alex had a combined mark of 13-4, including an 11-1 slate with teammate Dean Morse (Wickliffe) at No.2.  For his efforts, he was a second-team All-OAC selection.  Ison completes his tennis career with a 25-6 singles record.

Brandon May started at fifth singles and third doubles in 2003-2004. He compiled a perfect 14-0 singles mark and a 14-2 slate in doubles competition.  May will return in 2004-2005 and will help the Yellow Jackets defend their regular season and tournament titles.

Ryan McCartney played fifth and sixth singles as a freshman this past season.  He also rotated between No.2 and No.3 doubles.  McCartney compiled an 8-0 record at No. 6 singles (10-0 overall) and a 2-0 record at No. 2 doubles (2-1 overall) with teammate Dan Mitoff (Lorain/ Admiral King).

"I am extremely proud of our continued academic achievements and on the court tennis play." said Head Coach Brian Rector.  "The 2004 ITA All-Academic Team award earned was truly a team accomplishment and was not an accident.  It also proves that Division III student-athletes, at Baldwin Wallace University, can enjoy success on both fronts with proper planning and determination to achieve goals."

FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact SID Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX Machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.  FOR MORE BW TENNIS INFORMATION, please contact Head Coach Brian Rector by telephone at home at (440) 891-8469, by FAX at BW at (440) 826-2192 or via email at rectobr@stratos.net.  You can also access additional tennis information on our Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics and then go to the tennis pages.