Athletic Conference Title This Weekend at ONU
BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College men’s tennis team is seeking to win its first Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship since 1992 this Friday and Saturday, April 23-24 when it travels to Ada, Ohio and Ohio Northern University. In addition, B-W and ONU have had a great two-year battle for the team crown.
According to OAC Media Relations Director Julie Work, the Yellow Jackets became the first OAC men’s or women’s tennis team in the 101-year history of the conference to go through its regular season unbeaten (19-0). B-W also won its first-ever OAC regular season title (9-0 *** The OAC did not recognize an OAC regular season champ until 2003 when it went from a bracketed tourney format to a team vs. team format). It is also the third OAC-unbeaten regular season in school history.
As a team and individually, B-W is solid. As a team, the Yellow Jackets won 102 of 111 singes matches for a .918 winning percentage. Individually, junior No.1 singles player Mike Wagner (Avon Lake) was a perfect 9-0 against OAC opponents, is 17-1 overall with a 16-match winning streak. Junior No.2 singles player Ward Crane (Hudson/ Western Reserve Academy) was also 9-0 versus OAC opponents, leads the team with 18 wins, is 18-1 overall with a 17-match winning streak. Both Wagner and Crane have not lost since the fall ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Midwest Regional Tournament. Both are unbeaten this spring.
In addition, senior No.3 singles player Alex Ison (Tallmadge) was 8-0 vs. OAC opponents and is 12-1 overall. Senior No.4 singles player Dean Morse (Wickliffe), who earlier this year set an OAC record with 35 consecutive wins dating back to his sophomore year, was 7-1 vs. OAC opponents and is 16-1 overall. Sophomore No. 5 player Brandon May (New Philadelphia) is 9-0 vs. OAC opponents and 13-0 overall. The top player at No.6 singles is freshman Ryan McCartney (Lorain/ Admiral King) at 8-0 at No.6 and 10-0 overall. Despite his mark, look for either junior Adam Slabodnick (Ashland/ Senior) or junior Derek Sloan (Bellevue) to play at No.6 singles. Slabodnick, who has played mostly doubles this year, is 2-0 in singles play. Sloan is 11-4 overall, including 7-0 at No.5 and 3-3 at No.6. In continuing to show its depth, B-W junior Matt Seitz (Olmsted Falls) is 2-0 this year, was 10-0 last year and is 17-0 in his collegiate career and waiting in the wings to help his team when called upon.
"We are looking forward to the challenge of the OAC Tournament," said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Brian Rector. "We had an outstanding regular season and hope to keep it going this weekend."
Rector, who played high school tennis at local North Olmsted, was a record-setter and Academic All-American while at B-W and assumed the head coaching dutues from his head coach a month after graduating. In his 15 years at B-W, Rector has a 240-57 career mark, including a 106-23 slate vs. the OAC. He has one OAC title (1992) to his credit.
"We have a solid team," said Rector. "We have nine singles players who have pretty much split the six positions available. We have six starters and three very able backup players who would be starters at most other schools inthe OAC. Our top five positions have been very stable for quite some time. We have alternated at sixth singles most of the season."
In doubles play, Wagner and Crane play at No.1 and have a 12-2 mark this spring. Ison and Morse play at No.2 and are 9-1. May and Slabodnick play at No.3 and have a 7-1 mark.
Another motivating factor for Rector and his team is what happened a year ago in Berea. At last year’s OAC Championships, held at B-W, ONU beat B-W in the championship match, 4-3, with the final match coming down to a tie-breaker (7-5).
"Every person associated with this team at last year's OAC Tournament remembers what happened," said Rector. "It has been a motivator for us since that day. It has made us a better team, and now we want to prove to the rest of the OAC that it has made us a better team.
"Being undefeated during the regular season was one of our goals, and it is very nice," said Rector. "Being unbeaten in the OAC regular season and winning that title is also very nice. But the title we want is the one we will play for this weekend. It should be a very exciting time for our players."
B-W beat ONU, 5-2, in Ada earlier this spring. In its 9-0 OAC record, B-W has five shutouts and outscored the opposition, 58-5. In its 19-0 season, B-W has 14 shutouts, including three against NCAA Division II teams.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on the 2004 OAC Men's Tennis Tournament, please either call Julie Work at the OAC Office at 330-963-0444, reach her via FAX at 330-963-0459 or via e-mail at jwork@oac.org OR call ONU SID Tim Glon at 419-772-2046, FAX him at 419-772-2590 or e-mail him at t-glon@onu.edu. To get all of the results from the OAC Men's Tennis Championship Tournament, please log onto the ONU Web Sitte at http://www.onusports.com/MTennis/oac04.html.
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