Waschuk repeats on All-GLVC Team

After Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship quarterfinals play,
Waschuk has etched her name in the Bellarmine record books as the
 third winningest player in school history with 99 victories to her credit.

Bellarmine Athletics — Evann Waschuk has put together one of the most noteworthy careers in the history of Bellarmine University's women's tennis program. Now the Knights' senior has another achievement to reinforce her status.

Late Thursday evening, the league office announced Waschuk's inclusion on the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference Team. It is the second straight season that the Knights' senior has received the acknowledgement.

Waschuk did nothing short of stockpile victories this season. The Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba, built a 15-4 record in singles play and a 15-6 mark in doubles competition with junior Caitlin Hanley. She was 13-3 in matches established as No. 1 singles.

Buoyed by her sterling senior season, Waschuk shot up to No. 3 on Bellarmine's all-time wins list with 98 leading into the GLVC Tournament. Against conference competition this season, she gained three wins apiece in singles and doubles action.

Waschuk laid the foundation for a standout campaign early, regrouping after her losing her first singles match of the season to rattle off 11 consecutive victories. That streak included triumphs over GLVC colleagues Missouri-St. Louis, Truman State, William Jewell and Southern Indiana. During the impressive span, she was named GLVC Player of the Week on Feb. 17.

Waschuk capped the regular season with three consecutive singles victories, including a pair against conference counterparts Saint Joseph's and McKendree. Her 15 singles wins thus far rank among the single-season top 10 at Bellarmine since the 2006-07 season.

Waschuk also had a long string of dominance in doubles play during the regular season. She and Hanley registered eight straight victories bridging the fall and spring seasons, the last two over conference affiliates Missouri-St. Louis and Truman State. They would go on to triumph over league foes William Jewell, Illinois Springfield, Saint Joseph's and McKendree.

Get more Manitoba student-athlete #CollegeTennis updates on Twitter.

Knights' Waschuk named GLVC Tennis Player of Week

INDIANAPOLIS – Bellarmine University senior Evann Waschuk has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week in the sport of women's tennis, the conference office announced Tuesday.

In two victories Sunday against GLVC rivals Missouri-St. Louis and Truman State last week, Waschuk combined for a 4-0 record at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.

In the Knights' 5-4 win over the Tritons on Sunday, Waschuk was the only BU player to be involved in two victories. She teamed with junior Caitlin Hanley for an 8-5 win in doubles play over Lina Parra and Natalia Carvalhais, and then edged Renee Verboven 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 in singles action. Behind Waschuk's performance, BU was able to squeak out the victory.

Bellarmine followed later that day by meeting Truman State, and Waschuk helped set the tone with Hanley for an 8-1 triumph with a decisive 8-3 win in doubles play. She then delivered her final victory of the weekend with a 6-2, 6-2 result over Kim Birenbaum, triggering a sweep for the Knights in singles action against the Bulldogs.

In the process, Waschuk maintained her upward climb of Bellarmine's all-time wins list. Her four victories on Sunday pushed her into eighth place with 82.

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, this is Waschuk's first career weekly award and the first for a Knight since Caitlin Hanley was recognized by the league on March 25, 2014.

Sources: GLVC and Bellarmine Athletics.

Get more Manitoba student-athlete #CollegeTennis updates on Twitter.

CTV Sport Star: Kylie Waschuk

Kylie Waschuk was selected as the CTV Sport Star. The top-ranked junior tennis player in the province has captured several championship wins in Manitoba, and will be playing NCAA Division 1 tennis for Loyola Marymount University beginning this fall.

To view video, click here.

U.S. College Recruiting Guide

The pathway from the Tennis Manitoba Junior Tour to US college tennis and the potential to receive an athletic scholarship is an incredible opportunity. Not only is US college tennis a great athletic and academic opportunity for a young aspiring tennis player and has a tremendous financial value, but there are many intangible benefits from pursuing this worthy pathway.

To help aspiring student-athletes, Tennis Canada has published the United States College Recruiting Guide. The resource will help athletes, parents and junior coaches acquire valuable knowledge and plan for a US college tennis career.

View the U.S. College Recruiting Guide.

See also: College tennis begins 2014 spring season

April College Tennis Recap

Here is a college tennis update on Manitoba student athletes currently playing in the U.S. as part of NCAA programs.

Feel free to share, like, retweet, favorite or add comment to show your support.

Post by Tennis Manitoba.

Post by Tennis Manitoba.

Kudos to Winnipeg`s Muzeen Ismath, winning singles and doubles matches for Gonzaga vs Portland http://t.co/GscODwiCUG #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 25, 2014

#CollegeTennis: Alan Gardiner picks up singles and doubles wins, as @BUKnights roll past IU-Southeast 8-1. http://t.co/DXysfw7rcU
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 24, 2014

Evann Waschuk battles for 3 match wins over weekend as @BUKnights women's tennis improves to 11-5. http://t.co/m6eLwBYmbq #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 13, 2014

Post by Tennis Manitoba.

Winnipeg's Alek Ochrymowicz makes it 6 straight wins as @CSSsaints blank Martin Luther College 9-0 http://t.co/VxF8Px8Ku0 #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 13, 2014

Winnipeg's Jessica Silva picks up a 6-4 6-2 match win as @UTMSports dominate Belmont 5-1 in NCAA #CollegeTennis http://t.co/xAIii5o6lZ
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 12, 2014

Good luck to the Manitoba student-athletes who are wrapping up their NCAA #collegetennis spring season this weekend! http://t.co/5sbFESFl9h
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 12, 2014

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Winnipeg's Olga Blank honoured on Senior Day as UNCW clinch No. 1 seed in CAA http://t.co/cI04WtCjSl #CollegeTennis pic.twitter.com/yKF4tKVdkH
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 6, 2014

Post by Tennis Manitoba.

Winnipeg's Muzeen Ismath (@SJR_School alum) helps Zag doubles break through vs Saint Mary's College http://t.co/ChlgM845jO #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 2, 2014

Winnipegger / @SMAwpg alum Alek Ochrymowicz wins 6-0 6-0 for @CSSsaints vs University of Northwestern http://t.co/WihTmcVzUX #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) April 2, 2014

Get more Manitoba student-athlete #CollegeTennis updates on Twitter.

Waschuk named to All-GLVC squad

Evann Waschuk of the Bellarmine University women's tennis
 team was named to the Great Lakes Valley Conference
All-Conference Team.

By Bellarmine University

ST. LOUIS--The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced its annual awards tonight at the GLVC Tennis Championship banquet on Thursday night, and Bellarmine women's tennis player Evann Waschuk was named to the All-Conference Team. The 16-member All-GLVC squad combines eight individuals from the East and West divisions.

Waschuk, a junior from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, put together an impressive resume during the 2013-14 regular season when she went 10-4 in singles and teamed with Michelle McFerran to post a 9-4 record in doubles.

Bellarmine opens GLVC Championship play Friday at noon as the No. 3 seed from the East and they will play Missouri-St. Louis, the West's No. 2 seed.

March College Tennis Recap

Here is a college tennis update on Manitoba student athletes currently playing in the U.S. as part of NCAA programs.

Feel free to share, like, retweet, favorite or add comment to show your support.

Post by Tennis Manitoba.

Winnipegger Evann Waschuk leads the bagel brigade as @BU_Tennis pounds U of Illinois Springfield 8-1 http://t.co/pqPhutGft3 #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) March 30, 2014

Winnipeg's Jessica Silva helps @UTMSports with a dominating 6-1 victory over Southeast Missouri http://t.co/oRSCi6RBHE #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) March 30, 2014

Winnipeg's Aleksandra Ochrymowicz picks up a couple wins as @csssaints dominate in UMAC #collegetennis play http://t.co/uKp9GtbLrr
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) March 27, 2014

Winnipeg's Muzeen Ismath helps @GonzagaBulldogs down Portland State University 6-1 in NCAA D1 action http://t.co/84pQpzUj4J #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) March 27, 2014

Winnipeg's Evann Waschuk "brilliant" in @buknights 6-3 win over Southern Indiana http://t.co/z5OKUQG9Ju #TennisMB #CollegeTennis
— Tennis Manitoba (@TennisManitoba) March 25, 2014

Post by Tennis Manitoba.

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Get more Manitoba student-athlete #CollegeTennis updates on Twitter.

College tennis begins 2014 spring season

Alan Gardiner is the men's team captain with Bellarmine
 University in Louisville, Kentucky.

Manitoba student athletes get underway with their spring college tennis season. Joining the ranks of Manitoba-based student athletes for the 2013-2014 college season is Emily Fridrick who signed on with Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, and Zach Meikle who joins the men's team at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN.

Here is a listing of Manitoba student athletes taking part in the 2014 college spring season:

Bellarmine University (Louisville, KY)

Alan Gardiner

Evann Waschuk

Colorado State University-Pueblo (Pueblo, CO)

Saul Shrom

Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, FL)

Emily Fridrik

Erika Fridrik

Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA)

Muzeen Ismath

University of North Carolina Wilmington (Wilmington, NC)

Olga Blank

The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, MN)

Aleksandra Ochrymowicz

Zach Meikle

University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN)

Jessica Silva

See also: College tennis teams ready for 2013 spring season

Adventure at altitude for local tennis players

Shane Nicholls is playing the best tennis of
his life after spending a semester at
Colorado State University-Pueblo.
(SUBMITTED PHOTO BY KRISTEN MULLER)

(Courtesy of Canstar Community News, Avi Saper)

Shane Nicholls was starting to think playing university tennis this past year just wasn’t in the cards.

But that all changed when Saul Shrom called him up and suggested Nicholls think about joining him and another Winnipegger, Alex Lesiuk, at Colorado State University-Pueblo for the winter semester.

Nicholls, a 2012 grad of Westwood Collegiate, had enrolled at the University of Winnipeg last fall, but was still hoping to land a spot on a college tennis team.

"Saul talked me into how they needed a player, and things started rolling from there," said the St. James resident. "They were very helpful with financial aid, so I decided to go for it."

And with that, half of the six-man ThunderWolves team was from Winnipeg.

"The tennis community in Winnipeg isn’t the largest," Nicholls said. "But I was never that close with Alex and Saul before and we didn’t play on a regular basis. It was a pretty cool aspect that half the team was from Winnipeg and you get to be lifelong friends."

The first thing that grabbed his attention was the effect that Colorado’s thin air had not only on his lungs, but on the way the ball came off the racquet.

"Saul warned me about the altitude change," Nicholls said. "I found out my conditioning wasn’t my strongest suit."

The way that balls went sailing seemingly forever also caught Nicholls off guard. He had to adjust to not having as much time to prepare for a shot, and to keeping his own shots from going long.

"One I got adjusted I thought I was playing some of my best tennis," he said.

The ThunderWolves improved as the season went on, finishing in the middle of the pack in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

"It was a great year," said Shrom, a Gray Academy grad who was in his third year at CSU-Pueblo. "Alex and I played some good doubles together, and Shane improved a ton this year."

Another major adjustment for any player when they first arrive on a university tennis team is the fact that they’re no longer playing an individual sport. Rather than winning or losing for himself, Nicholls was suddenly part of a six-man squad representing an entire school.

"It was really nerve wracking at first," he said. "But once you got to know the team well, everyone was welcoming and treated me very well."

Nicholls isn’t sure where his tennis will take him next fall, but he is looking forward to seeing how his college experience will serve him on the local scene this summer. The Taylor Tennis Club and Deer Lodge Tennis Club member said he felt like a stronger player when he returned to the local courts last week.

"I felt like I was more into the points," he said.

With the high number of matches played over the winter, and vastly improved conditioning, Nicholls thinks he could have the most successful summer of his career.

avi.saper@canstarnews.com

For an additional listing of Tennis Manitoba college updates, visit facebook.com\tennismanitoba

’Peg invasion on Colorado college tennis program

Saul Shrom was one of three Winnipeggers
 on the CSU-Pueblo men's tennis team
this year. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

(Courtesy of Canstar Community News, Avi Saper)

The men’s tennis team at Colorado State University-Pueblo had a serious connection to Winnipeg this season.

Three of the six members of the ThunderWolves were Winnipeggers, thanks to a strange turn of events than landed Saul Shrom at the campus about two hours south of Denver.

Shrom had signed on with a school in Cleveland in 2010, and was ready to go when he got a call at the end of July saying the school had cancelled its tennis program.

"They told us the coach had left them last minute and they had no time to hire a new coach," said the Tuxedo resident, who graduated from the Gray Academy.

The coach had a different version of events, but the result was the same: Shrom was without a place to play. Even if he had decided to attend one of the local universities, he was out of luck because most of the classes were full.

He contacted every school with a tennis program he could think of, and eventually got a response from CSU-Pueblo. A few days later, he was a ThunderWolf.

"I loved it down here," he said. "They hadn’t had a Canadian on the team before me."

After Shrom enjoyed his freshman experience so much, he was eager to help recruit other Winnipegers to the team. Last year he was joined by Alex Lesiuk, a Vincent Massey grad who had spent a previous semester at St. Cloud State in Minnesota.

"He was back in Winnipeg for a year and a half itching to play tennis," Shrom said. "It worked out last minute, and he came out."

Lesiuk played the last two seasons with Shrom, and graduated last week.

And this past semester saw the addition of another Winnipeg product to the team’s roster, as Westwood Collegiate grad Shane Nicholls came to Colorado.

"It was pretty cool this year to have three guys from Winnipeg," Shrom said. "Bringing them out here made it feel like old times."

Shrom played hockey until he was 11, but decided at that point to focus completely on tennis. He saw older players from the Winnipeg Winter Club, where he practised, going on to American colleges, and dreamt of doing the same.

"My dad always told me if I picked a sport I should pick one that you can really go somewhere with," he said. "I thought there were more opportunities in tennis."

The NCAA experience has been a good one for Shrom. As opposed to Canadian university tennis, where there aren’t a lot of tournaments, the ThunderWolves are competing regularly against players from all over the world.

"I’ve probably played 20 or 30 guys from Europe," Shrom said. "And next year we won’t have a single American on our team."

The ThunderWolves had an up and down season in 2012-13, closing it out with a fifth place finish at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament.

"It was a great year," Shrom said. "Alex and I played some good doubles together, and Shane improved a ton this year."

avi.saper@canstarnews.com

Are Manitoba university students up for the challenge?

University of Manitoba tennis team participated in
Saskatoon, February 2011. Photo courtesy of
The University of Manitoba Tennis Club.

Tennis Canada is currently looking for university and college athletes to participate in the Campus Tennis Challenge which takes place May 17th - 19th in Saskatoon, SK. The weekend tournament is open to all students currently attending a university or college in Canada, with the focus on schools currently without a varsity or club tennis program.

The Campus Tennis Challenge is a team event which provides athletes with a high level of competition while focusing on the development and growth of university and college tennis across the country. For additional details on team eligibility, match formats, registration deadline, fees, and contact information, please click here.

See also: Halifax Campus Tennis Challenge

Manitobans head to NCAA conference championships

Clarissa Chen, Robert Morris University

Good luck to Manitobans playing in NCAA conference championships this weekend!

> Clarissa Chen, Robert Morris University
> Sean Bailey, Austin Peay State University
> Alan Gardiner, Bellarmine University
> Alex Lesiuk, Colorado State University-Pueblo
> Igal Mostkov, Bellarmine University
> Shane Nicholls, Colorado State University-Pueblo
> Aleksandra Ochrymowicz, College of St. Scholastica
> Saul Shrom, Colorado State University-Pueblo
> Evann Waschuk, Bellarmine University

For an additional listing of Tennis Manitoba college updates, visit facebook.com\tennismanitoba

Game, set, match in the desert

Winnipeg student athletes anchor ThunderWolves tennis team.

(Winnipeg: Submitted article) It’s not unusual to hear of Canadian students attending colleges and universities in the US. But three young men from Winnipeg at the same school is rare. And those three making up half of the school’s men’s tennis team? What are the odds?

Senior Alex Lesiuk (Vincent Massey High School), junior Saul Shrom (Gray Academy) and freshman Shane Nicholls (Westwood Collegiate) have taken their skills learned on Winnipeg courts and are making an impact at Colorado State University in Pueblo, Colorado. Alex and Saul are Number 1 and 2 players, respectively, on Head Coach Mark Schlief’s team, while Shane, who joined them in January, plays as number 6.

These highly motivated young men have formed a tight bond with their teammates from Colorado, Oregon and Veracruz, Mexico. By all accounts they’re loving life in the Colorado Desert. The team has struggled this year playing in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference against powerhouses like Western New Mexico, Colorado Mesa and Metro State. Although incurring more losses than wins, throughout their season the team has had some close results and has shown gritty play and great team sportsmanship.

They enter the conference championship this weekend as the #5 seed and are hoping to knock off one of the favourites. Should they record the results they’re hoping for, there is no doubt the three lads from Winnipeg will be at least 50% responsible for the team’s success.

See also: Pack hoping to ride Winnipeg connection to RMAC Championship this weekend

Winnipeggers selected to all conference teams

Sean Bailey (top left), Alex Lesiuk, Igal
Mostkov and Saul Shrom were named to
their conference all star teams.

(Winnipeg: Various sources) This past week four Winnipeg student athletes were named to their respective NCAA conference all star teams.

Senior Sean Bailey of the Austin Peay State University men’s tennis team earned All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team honors.

Bailey, last season’s OVC Men’s Player of the Year, has enjoyed another sterling season in 2013. The Canadian went 19-4 overall, including a 13-3 dual record and an 8-1 mark in OVC play. He and Ademovic formed a formidable duo at No. 1 doubles, going 12-3 overall.

With this season’s honor, Bailey becomes Austin Peay’s first four-time all-conference honoree in men’s tennis. He’s the first OVC player to earn all-conference accolades during each year of his career since Eastern Kentucky’s Alex Das (2008-11).

“It’s a very nice for Sean,” said head coach Ross Brown. “It’s great the coaches have that much respect for him. Hopefully we can cap his career with a win this weekend.”

The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's tennis squad had two of its players named to the All-RMAC team, both from Winnipeg. Senior Alex Lesiuk was rewarded with a selection to the All-RMAC First Team and partnered with junior Saul Shrom for doubles play, the duo were selected for the All-RMAC Second Team.

Lesiuk posted a 6-13 record this spring going 2-2 in conference play this season.

Shrom, when partnered with Lesiuk in No. 1 doubles play posted a 6-11 record this spring for the Pack.

Sophomore Igal Mostkov, of the Bellarmine University Knights men's tennis team, was an All-Conference selection for the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

All four student athletes will be participating for their college squads in their respective conference championships taking place this weekend.

See also...
> Four Govs earn All-OVC honors
> Lesiuk earns double honors as All-RMAC selections were announced
> Mostkov, Rabinov named All-GLVC

Pack's Shrom named RMAC Player of the Week

Manitoban student athlete, Saul Shrom, is awarded
RMAC conference tennis player of the week honors.

Courtesy: Colorado State University-Pueblo Department of Athletics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - CSU-Pueblo junior Saul Shrom (Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) has been named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week.

Shrom is in the midst of a five-game singles play win streak after going undefeated last week and getting a singles play win when the ThunderWolves hosted No. 20 Cameron. In that match, he defeated the Aggies' Duje Janjic (6-4, 2-6, 10- 6) in the No. 2 slot, for CSU-Pueblo's lone singles win.

So far this season, Shrom is 6-6 overall and a perfect 5-0 playing out of the Pack's two-singles hole, where he's snagged his past five wins. With doubles partner Alex Lesuik (Sr., Winnpeg, Manitoba, Canada), the duo is 3-7 as the Pack's one-doubles combo, but has won its last two matches.

For an additional listing of Tennis Manitoba college updates, visit facebook.com\tennismanitoba

Bailey takes OVC Player of the Week honors

Manitoban student athlete, Sean Bailey, is awarded
conference tennis player of the week honors.
 (Courtesy: B Sparn/APSU Sports Information)

Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Senior Sean Bailey, of the Austin Peay State University men's tennis team, has been named Ohio Valley Conference men's tennis Player of the Week, the conference office announced, Wednesday.

The Manitoba, Canada native easily dispatched Northern Kentucky's Guillaume Berman (6-2, 6-1) in Saturday's No. 1 singles match in his lone match last week. Bailey and junior Jasmin Ademovic teamed up to defeat Berman and Andre Correa, 8-4, in No. 1 doubles. He is now 5-2 in singles this spring and 6-1 in doubles.

This is Bailey's first weekly honor since March 21, 2012. He and the rest of the Govs return to action in the OVC opener against Eastern Kentucky, Saturday.

For an additional listing of Tennis Manitoba college updates, visit facebook.com\tennismanitoba

College tennis spring season update

Evann Waschuk of the Bellarmine University Knights

A big shoutout goes to our Manitoba students who claimed match wins during the opening weeks of the NCAA spring tennis season.

Evann Waschuk with Bellarmine University women's tennis was able to get wins at the No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles positions, in an 7-2 win over Campbellsville University. More at http://ow.ly/hVfxK

Alan Gardiner has started with a very hot hand, picking up two wins for Bellarmine University men's team vs. University of the Cumberlands (story at http://ow.ly/hVgkn ), as well as two wins vs. Campbellsville University, St. Catharine College and Brescia University. More at http://ow.ly/hVgUk

Sean Bailey helped Austin Peay State University men's tennis team get off to a good start, picking up match wins at No. 1 singles and doubles in their season opener against Chattanooga. (Story at http://ow.ly/hVhqs) Sean was also able to duplicate his efforts for the Govs home opener vs. Southern Illinois. More at http://ow.ly/hVhUP

Clarissa Chen provided the Robert Morris University women's tennis team with No. 3 singles wins vs. Mercyhurst (http://ow.ly/hVij4) and Niagara, as well as picking up a No. 1 doubles win vs. St. Bonaventure. More at http://ow.ly/hViUA

Aleksandra Ochrymowicz helped her St. Scholastica women's tennis team defeat Hamline University 9-0, picking up a match win in the No. 6 singles position. More at http://ow.ly/hVk3f

Alex Lesiuk was able to get a win at No. 3 singles as Colorado State University-Pueblo took on the defending RMAC champs Western New Mexico University. More at http://ow.ly/hVjCb

For a listing of Tennis Manitoba college updates, visit facebook.com\tennismanitoba

College tennis teams ready for 2013 spring season

Saul Shrom picked up an athlete of the week award last fall
due to stellar play with the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves.

Many of our Manitoba student athletes will start their spring NCAA college tennis season this weekend. With Shane Nicholls signing on with Colorado State University-Pueblo this past January, there will be an all time high number of fourteen Manitoban's playing on U.S. university teams during the 2012-2013 school year.

Here is a listing of Manitoba students participating in the 2012-2013 college spring season:

Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, TN)
> Govs host SIU in first home dual match

Sean Bailey

Bellarmine University (Louisville, KY)
> BU tennis teams ready for spring seasons

Alan Gardiner

Igal Mostkov

Evann Waschuk

Colorado State University-Pueblo (Pueblo, CO)
> ThunderWolves picked fifth in Preseason Coaches' poll

Alex Lesiuk

Saul Shrom

Shane Nicholls

Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, FL)

Erika Fridrik

Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA)
> Men's Tennis Picked Ninth In WCC Preseason Poll

Muzeen Ismath

Robert Morris University (Moon Township, PA)

Clarissa Chen

University of North Carolina Wilmington (Wilmington, NC)

Kosta Blank

Olga Blank

The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, MN)
> Women's Tennis Begins 2013 Season

Aleksandra Ochrymowicz

University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN)
> Tennis Ranked Second in OVC Preseason Polls

Jessica Silva

Sean Bailey earns OVC Scholar-Athlete award

Austin Peay Governors Tennis’ Sean Bailey earns Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete award

(Courtesy of TN Online, November 7, 2012

2012 Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Award,
APSU’s Sean Bailey

Brentwood, TN – Austin Peay State University senior men’s tennis player Sean Bailey [from Winnipeg, Manitoba] has earned one of six prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Awards for 2011-12, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Bailey is one of six selected recipients – three men and three women – determined by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives.

Candidates must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 GPA and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2011-12 school year.

“Sean is truly an exceptional young man,” said head coach Ross Brown. “He is a tremendous tennis player and student-athlete, as well as a tireless worker in all areas of his life.”

Joining Bailey as an OVC Scholar-Athlete for the 2011-12 school year were Eastern Illinois’ Stephanie Arnold (volleyball), Tennessee Tech’s Kellie Cook (basketball), Eastern Kentucky’s Patrick Ford (football), UT Martin’s Leah Taylor (softball) and Murray State’s Hunter York (golf).

Since the award’s inception in 1981-82, 20 Austin Peay athletes have earned a Scholar-Athlete award from the OVC. Bailey is the 13th male to be honored, and the first since Leonardo Locatelli for the 2009-10 year.

Bailey, the 2012 OVC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year and Austin Peay’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete, continues to collect accolades from what has been a stand-out career at Austin Peay. A second-team All-OVC selection as a freshman, Bailey’s junior campaign saw him post a 19-5 singles record, including a 7-0 OVC mark. He recorded a team-best 21 victories as a sophomore and went 20-6 in doubles play.

In the classroom, Bailey has a 3.94 grade-point average with a double major in corporate communication and French. A two-time OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll honoree and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, as well as a five-time member of the APSU President’s List and a six-time Dean’s List honoree, Bailey was Austin Peay’s 2012 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Off the court, Bailey has been an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as both president and vice-president during his tenure with the group. He is also an active member of the Public Relations Society of America and the French Club. He has volunteered with the Wounded Warrior Benefit Dinner, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Food Drive, the Liberty Elementary Book Fair, Austin Peay’s Kid’s Day and Govs Give Back.

“In 18 years of coaching college tennis and being involved with exceptional student-athletes, Sean is one of the best I’ve been around,” Brown said. “Our program is fortunate to have him, and I’m lucky to get the opportunity to coach him for a year.”

Bailey and the rest of the Govs kick off the spring portion of the 2012-13 season, January 26th, at Samford.

Austin Peay Mens Tennis’ Sean Bailey.
(Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information)

Provincial championships fast approaching

2010 Manitoba Open champion Tony Larson and
2011 champion Kevin Kylar plan to renew acquaintances
at this year's Manitoba Open.

The 2012 Manitoba Open & Senior Open starts next week at the Kildonan Tennis Club, located along the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Manitoba's best tennis players will be battling to claim provincial championships from July 17-27. The Open events, along with Senior draws, will begin next Tuesday with finals scheduled for Sunday, July 22nd. Online registration deadline for these events is today. The 4.5 and 3.5 draws begin Monday, July 23rd and wrap up on Friday, July 27th. Entry deadline for 4.5 and 3.5 events is Sunday, July 15th at 11:59pm.

All tournament participants receive:

• 2012 Manitoba Open T-shirt
• Access to Karoake night held on Saturday, July 21st
• An all you can eat brunch on Sunday, July 22nd, catered by Urban Prairie Cuisine
• DewDrop water throughout the tournament courtesy of World of Water, Henderson Highway.

Returning will be last year's men's singles champion Kevin Kylar, along with 2010 champion, Tony Larson. As well, many Manitoba players who spent 2011/2012 on NCAA college tennis teams in the United States will also be participating in the 2012 Manitoba Open. College players include: Sean Bailey* (Austin Peay State University), Erika Fridrik* (Eckerd College), Alan Gardiner (Bellarmine University), Muzeen Ismath* (Gonzaga University), Alex Lesiuk (Colorado State University at Pueblo), Saul Shrom (Colorado State University at Pueblo), and Evann Waschuk* (Bellarmine University).

Visit the 2012 Manitoba Open & Senior Open website.

* Previous Manitoba Open singles, doubles, and/or mixed doubles champions.