University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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I ! till! II FILLING THE VOID A blend of new faces and experienced players worked together to overcome the challenges caused by the graduation of nearly the entire Men ' s tennis team, by Josh Bopp ' ne of the pitfalls associated with any college athletic team is the loss of experienced athletes due to graduation. Having to fill the void left by those who have graduated often rests on inexperi- enced players. With the men ' s tennis team, a type of rebirth came with the loss of nearly the entire team due to gradua- tion ana the arrival of several new faces . As a result, many players were put in situations unfamiliar to them, but although it was not the most impressive record for the young Wolverines, many obstacles were overcome. Head Coach Brian Eisner wanted to emphasize that the season was mainly a time of building and learning with only four returning players and four first-year players. As team captain, junior Dan Brakus said, It was a definite learning year for the team. A lot of the learning came from hands-on experience as all four first-year students saw regular playing time throughout the year. It was pretty tough with a lot of young players who hadn ' t played a lot rfHHIlesPWIfer lHPw JP learning as w|went along, (and) it some- times takes a while to get used things, said sophonBre Grady Burnett who, though in hiBsecond year on the team, was playing on a regular basis for the first time. Both Beaches and players alike seemed to agrre that having the inexperi- ence was, although no one ' s fault, the root C J ' f- or the team Wif student John ostanzo saia, W e naaa lot of talent, but the inexperience hurt us. Losing numerous matches by only a few sets, the team struggled to both overcome inhibitions and live up to expectations they had set from themselves. It ' s hard when you don ' t have that many guys used to the situation and pressures (of college tennis), said Burnett, who saw action as both the 3 and 4 singles player. As players recounted, when the being a team just was not thereat uchor this was attributed to having so many new faces around. We lost practically a whole team in one season. So, it was kind of weird with so many young teammates, said Brakus, who compiled a 3 1 - 1 1 record as well as being the fourt h-ranked player in the Midwest playing 1 singles. We just weren ' t at all close or team- mates in the true sense of the word, added Costanzo, the team ' s 1 singles player. However, serving as team cap- tain and leader, Brakus was able to bring the team to- gether by season ' s end. As Costanzo said, He (Brakus) pulled us all to- gether and made us feel like a team. His on-court lead- ership inspired us all. He save 100% in my eyes, we had the ability to finish) second or I wanted for us to step up and follow his example, added Burnett. Eisner felt with the team ' s eighth place finish in the Big 10, the team was mis- The team ad Mcontend not only Pith inexperi- ence J|ut also with inj urBs as it headed into he Big 10 Championships. As Isner said, CorBng into the Big 10 tournament we hi three of the start|g eight play- injuries. Because of the injuries, the team was hardly able to field a full line up. Eisner added, Let ' s be truthful. I ' m not trying to make excuses for our record, but Compiling a 31 ' 1 1 record at 1 singles, including 15-4 Big 10 play, junior Dan Brakus earned All-Big 10 honors . Brakus also qualified for the NCAA Singles National Championship where he lost a tough first round match 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-1) to the number 12 seed. -Bob Kalmbach 1 342 Sports

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With the young te F we had, it was a defin challenge as far as trying to work together, said sophomore Stan Johanning, the team ' s leading javelin thrower. Photo courtesy of Sports Information. Front: Stan Sharik, Matt Smith, Dan Redden, Wakeland Gentiles, Van Cowan, Mike Ecclestt i Lancaster, Toby Van Pelt, Matt Schroeder, MacKay, Kent Bernard. 3rd: Assistant Coach Karfonta, Shawm Sweat, Todd Burnham, Jim Fi Theo Molla, Kris Eggie, Robert Frangione, Sean ike Carson, Chris Childs, Head Coach Jack Harvey, 2nd: Aaron Grz}mlcou sld, Brian Smith, Chris Happel, Stan Johanning, Scott FacuJalc, Shaum !on Warhurst, Ian Fors th, Brian Renaldi, Nick son, volunteer assistant coach Dan Heikkinen. 4th: y, Andy Schultz, Scott MacDonald. Back: Trinity Townsend, David Jones, Jon Royce, Andre A itt. -Bob Kalmbach. Scoreboard Men ' s track and 8th Big 10 lndoor 7th Meet EMU Invitational Michigan Relays UM Penn st MSU OSU Kentucky MSU Relays Central Collegiates Eastern Michigan Classic Silverston Invit ational Big 10 Indoor Championships NCAA Indoor Championships Alabama Relays Texas Relays Kansas Relays Penn Relays Hillsdale Relays Central Collegiates Jesse Owens Invitational EMU Twi-Light Meet National Invitational Paddock Invitational Big 1 Outdoor Championships field Outdoor Placement NTS NTS 3rd NTS 4th NTS NTS 8th NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS Sports 34 1

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on his backhand form, first-year student Greg Artz prepares for match. -Bob Kalmbach Front: Greg Art?, Grody Burnett, Eric Grand, Dan Brafcus, Adam Wagner, Mice Nold, student trainer Mary Sulisz- Back: Assiwnt coach Dan Goldberg, Chris Wyatt, Peter Pusztai, Geoff Prentice, John Constanzo, Head Coach Brian Eisner. Photo Courtesy of Sports Information. Scoreboard % Men ' s tennis 8-14 Derail 6-9 Big 10 (8th) Tom Fallen Intttational Harvard Fall Invtational Volvo All-AmeM:an Tournament m Rolex Sectiona Spartan Invita Eastern Michi Baylor Texas A M Texas Championships nal in South Florida Tulsa Indiana Ohio State Notre Dame Iowa Minnesota Michigan State West Virginia Penn State Wisconsin Northwestern Illinois Purude Big 10 Championship (8th Place) Illinois Wisconsin Minnesota Iowa Ohio State NTS NTS NTS NTS NTS 7-0 5-2 3-4 0-7 0-5 3-5 5-0 2-5 3-4 1-6 3-4 1-6 4-3 5-2 3-4 5-2 3-4 5-2 6-1 4-0 4-1 1-4 1-4 2-4 Spans 343