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Coach Bill Maddock has many reasons for excitement as his 10th season as the men’s tennis coach opens at Tri-State University. The team is coming off the 2007 season with a young team of five freshmen and one sophomore in the lineup. They gained experience as they won six matches and lost 12 in the very competitive MIAA conference schedule.
At #1 singles, freshman Brett Becker from Cincinnati, Ohio, competed well, as he had a regular season record of eight wins and seven losses. With a year of experience under his belt, Becker is expected to have a great sophomore season.
Becker also teamed with the only non-freshman on the team, Bryan Roth of Topeka, Ind., at #1 doubles to earn eight victories at that spot. Roth’s leadership and work ethic were valuable to this young team, and he will be looked upon to fulfill that role again as a junior in the 2008 season.
Nick Garstka, a freshman at #2 singles last year, will be joined by his high school teammate, Tim Buckmeier of New Haven High School this year, as they will fight to earn one of the top spots in the singles lineup.
Brad Wood of Sturgis, Mich. and Issa Salsa of Flint, Mich. saw a lot of playing time last year at #5 and #6 singles, respectively. They are hoping to build on last year’s experience and gain a starting role on this year’s squad. They will be pushed by Mario Bonardi, a freshman from Buchanan, Mich, and junior Sean Matusko of Richmond, Mich.
The 2007 season was a year of growth. With this young team coming back with a year of college experience behind them and the addition of a few new players who add more depth to the squad, competition in practices will be fierce. That, in turn, will make us more competitive.
The team opens its schedule on Feb. 9 against Grand Rapids Community College. Spring break in Hilton Head Island, S.C. a few weeks later offers the team the opportunity to play six matches in seven days against schools from all over the country. This experience will prepare TSU for the always challenging Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference schedule in April.
Blessed with a young and talented team, Coach Maddock can hardly wait for the games to begin.
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