FRIENDS OF WESLEYAN MEN’S and WOMEN’S TENNIS August 2007 • Freeman Athletic Center • Wesleyan University • Middletown, CT 06459 Greetings from Middletown. in the future, since both squads are loaded with sophomores and juniors The height of summer has arrived, and I who have already established themselves as solid collegiate players. hope you are spending some quality time On the women’s side, three members of the class of ’09 played on the tennis court, enjoying the great game numbers one, two, and three singles: Ania Preneta (Boston, Mass.), all of us so much appreciate. I’d like to fill Madalina Ursu (Bucharest, Romania), and Rachael Ghorbani (Lexington, you in on all the goings-on with Wesleyan Mass.). After senior team captain Tori Santoro fractured her collarbone tennis as I prepare to enter my fourth year and Emily Fish ’09 (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) decided to take a leave from as the Cardinals’ men’s and women’s ten- Wesleyan, three first-year women held the four through six positions: nis coach. Anika Fischer (New York City), Meredith Holmes (Ivy, Va.), and Casey Simchik (Rye, N.H.). The doubles lineup featured Madalina and Anika Commencement at number one, Rachael and Alexandra Sirois ’09 (Koloa, Hawaii), at Four Wesleyan tennis players received two, and Ania and Lizzie Collector ’09 (Santa Barbara, Calif.) at the their degrees this spring. Tori Santoro (Car- Head Coach Ken Alrutz third position. lisle, Mass.), Vijay Chaudhuri (Glen Ridge, The men’s lineup displayed a bit more flux. While Tallen Todorovich N.J.), Jack Rooney (Rancho Murieta, Calif.), and Tallen Todorovich and Jack Rooney, two of the three senior tri-captains, held the first and (Pound Ridge, N.Y.). All four of these student-athletes displayed their second singles positions, Paul Gerdes ’09 (Omaha, Neb.) played in dedication to their teammates and sport each time they walked onto the the third slot, Matthew O’Connell ’09 (Berwyn, Pa.) usually manned courts. They also exemplified the Division III ideal of placing academics number four, Jaafar Rizvi (Burlingto, Vt.) covered number five, and first, as they graduated within four years and head toward successful Michael Frank ’08 (Lexington, Mass.) held down number six, virtually careers. Both Tori and Jack were honored this year as members of the every other player on the team shared playing time, and the singles con- academic all-NESCAC team. Everyone associated with Wes Tennis tributions of these men cannot be over-emphasized. They include the wishes them nothing save the best! third tri-captain Vijay Chaudhuri ‘07, junior classmates Pauri Pandian ‘08 (Hingham, Mass.) and Max Schenkein ‘08 (San Francisco, Calif.), Awards members of the class of ’09 Alejandro Alvarado (Jamaica Plain, Mass.), During the Athletic Department’s all-sports banquet held May 10, Roy Chung (Sammamish, Wash.), and Graham Immerman (Florence, Madalina Ursu ’09 received the Jones Award as the player deemed Mass.), and first-year Miles Krieger ‘10 (Prescott, Ariz.). A variety most valuable in women’s tennis; Vijay Chaudhuri ’07 won the Wood of doubles pairings saw action for the Cardinals, but at the end of the Memorial Award as the player “demonstrating leadership, discipline, season, Tallen and Jack played one, Matthew and Jaafar two, and Paul competitive spirit, and sportsmanship;” and Tallen Todorovich ‘07, for and Alejandro three. the second year in a row, was the Millett and Burton Memorial Award recipient as the “doubles player who best combines the qualities of skill, Highlights spirit, and sportsmanship.” These awards are particularly meaningful, Two major events characterized the 2006-07 Cardinal tennis campaign, because the two teams vote for them. one in the fall and one in the spring. Both teams dedicated their seasons to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, raising awareness and money as well as promoting educational efforts. The Affiliate Director of the Komen Foundation indicated that Wesleyan’s was the first intercollegiate tennis program in the United States to support the organization. All Wesleyan opponents, women and men, received information packets and pink bracelets before their matches. In addition, Cardinal players dedicated each of their individual contests either to breast-cancer victims or to breast-cancer survivors. Many other schools have contacted Wesleyan tennis and the Komen Foundation, wishing to implement educational and fundraising programs modeled after ours. At the final women’s match of the fall, Vijay Chaudhuri ‘07 Tallen Todorovich ‘07 Madalina Ursu ‘09 NBC TV-30 provided wonderful coverage of the elaborate silent auction, displays, booths, and the team. Please examine it through the following 2006-07 Season Review link: < http://www.cefale.com/Komen_Event >. This entire experience The programs’ combined record of 21-17 is the second year in a row indicates that Wesleyan tennis players understand they are part of a larger that Wesleyan tennis enjoyed a winning record, following the previous community and that they take very seriously their responsibility to other year’s 21-9 mark. Equally important is the promise of exciting times people. Coach Alrutz and all the players wish to thank such com- panies and businesses as Wilson, Prince, Head/Penn, Nike, and the Women Racquet Koop for their generous support of the effort. Lizzie Collector** Jr. Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara HS After beginning spring practice on February 15 in the friendly Anika Fischer* So. New York, NY/Hunter College HS confines of Bacon Field House, the two teams and Coaches Rikki and Rachael Ghorbani* Jr. Lexington, MA/Lexington HS Ken journeyed to Orlando for five days of work in the sun of Florida. Meredith Holmes* So. Ivy, VA/St. Anne’s Belfield School Although the players had been together for six months and had played 12 Linda McDougal Fr. Kathmandu, Nepal/The Lincoln School matches/tournaments in the fall, this trip reinforced the sense of together- Ania Preneta* Jr. Boston, MA/Boston Latin School ness that marks Wesleyan tennis and is one of its salient selling points Casey Simchik* So. Rye, NH/Phillips Exeter Academy for recruits. Both the men and women competed against six opponents Alex Sirois* Jr. Koloa, HI/Kauai HS ranging from fellow NCAA Division III schools, to Division II, NAIA, Madalina Ursu* Jr. Bucharest, Romania/Mihai Viteazul and even Division I institutions—all scholarship-granting programs. National College You should be proud of the Cardinals’ results! The men compiled a *2006-07 Letterwinner (8) **Captain super 4-2 record while the women swept all six matches, highlighted by victories over the University of Puerto Rico and Manhattan College, About the Recruits each of which came down to the final doubles match on the court. Among the players expected to bolster the men’s and women’s teams during the next four years are two outstanding student-ath- Captains letes from very different parts of the world. Both of them applied At the final team meeting of the spring, the women players to Wesleyan during the early-decision periods, and everyone here elected Lizzie Collector ‘09 captain for the 2007-08 season. is extremely pleased that they will be joining us. Pauri Pandian ‘08, Max Schenkein ‘08, and Michael Frank ‘08 Matthew Schaff ‘11 from Boise, Idaho was a two-sport star will serve as tri-captains for the men this year. in high school, playing championship basketball as well as tennis. 2007-08 PRESEASON ROSTERS His size and strength enable him to hit big serves and dominate the forecourt. Men A native of Kathmandu, Nepal, Linda McDougal ‘11 is ranked Name Class Hometown/Secondary School number one in her country and regularly competes in, among other Alejandro Alvarado* Jr. Jamaica Plain, MA/Noble & Greenough Roy Chung* Jr. Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS places, India. She mentions that one of her earliest memories is Michael Frank** Sr. Lexington, MA/Belmont Hill School riding on an elephant with her father, who studies tigers, tracking Paul Gerdes* Jr. Omaha, NE/Westside HS the big cats through the jungle. Linda will bring a solid all-court Graham Immerman* Jr. Florence, MA/Northampton HS game to the Cardinal line-up. Miles Krieger* So. Prescott, AZ/Prescott HS Matt O’Connell* Jr. Berwyn, PA/Conestoga HS Pauri Pandian** Sr. Hingham, MA/Hanover HS Jaafar Rizvi* Jr. Burlington, VT/Burlington HS Matt Schaff Fr. Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly HS Max Schenkein** Sr. San Francisco, CA/Norwell (MA) HS *2006-07 Letterwinner (10) **Tri-Captain Clad in pink t-shirts in honor of the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, the Wesleyan men’s and women’s tennis teams didicated their seasons to raising awareness and funds for the cause. The teams will be determining their community service avenue for 2007-08 shortly. Tennis Tip from Coach Ken/Alrutz Family News SUPPORT WESLEYAN MEN’S & WOMEN’S TENNIS Contemporary tennis is built upon aggressiveness, and all seri- Please consider making a donation in support ous players understand the three basic ways to rob their opponents of Wesleyan University men’s and women’s tennis. of time. They can hit massive pace, generating it with polyester strings and pronounced upper-body rotation. Think Justine Henin All donations are tax-deductible. Please note that this gift and Rafael Nadal. Other players can stand close to the baseline and does not count toward the unrestricted “Wesleyan Fund,” take the ball on the rise. No one was better than Andre at this tactic. but you will be counted as a participant in Wesleyan’s current The classic aggressive move, however, is to close the net and finish fundraising campaign. We hope you also will support the a point with a well-placed volley. When you want to improve your Wesleyan Fund each year. Thanks for all your support!! volleying technique, focus on these things: Name ______________________________________________ • Use a continental grip for both the forehand and the backhand Class (Wes Grad or Parent [P'xx]) ______________________ volleys.