TOLEDO ROCKET MEN’S TENNIS | 2016-17 MEDIA GUIDE UTROCKETS.COM /UTROCKETS @TOLEDOROCKETS @UTROCKETS 1 MEDIA GUIDELINES TABLE OF CONTENTS All interviews and phone requests must be University Quick Facts ..................................................... 3 coordinated with the UT Athletic Communica- 2016-17 Schedule .............................................................. 4 tions Office. Please contact Sasha Mandros with 2016-17 Season Outlook ............................................ 5-6 any questions or requests. Head Coach Al Wermer .............................................. 7-8 G.A. Coach Mark Singnil ................................................... 9 Sasha Mandros 2015-16 Roster ................................................................... 10 (419) 530-4925 (office) Rocket Profiles ........................................................... 11-22 [email protected] Rockets by Class ............................................................. 23 Rockets by Country ......................................................... 24 MISSION STATEMENT 2015-16 Results ......................................................... 25-26 “The mission of The University of Toledo is to Program History and Honors .............................. 27-30 improve the human condition; to advance knowl- Mid-American Coference ............................................ 31 edge through excellence in learning, discovery UT History & Traditions ........................................... 32-38 and engagement; and to serve as a diverse, President Sharon L. Gaber .......................................... 39 student-centered public metropolitan research Vice President/Athletic Director Mike O’Brien .... 40-41 university.” UT Head Coaches ............................................................ 42 The Mission Statement of the Intercollegiate UT Athletic Facilities ............................................... 43-46 Athletics Department: Academic Support Services ............................... 47-48 Compliance and Boosters ......................................... 49 “The University of Toledo Department of Inter- Sports Medicine ............................................................... 50 collegiate Athletics is committed to providing Strength & Conditioning ............................................... 51 a broad-based athletes program for men and Directions to Campus ................................................... 52 women that strives for academic and competitive City of Toledo ..................................................................... 53 excellence at conference, regional and national levels.” Rocket Social Media ....................................................... 54 CREDITS The University of Toledo is committed to a policy of equal The 2016-17 Toledo Men’s Tennis information guide opportunity in education, employment, membership and is a publication of the University of Toledo Athletic contracts, and no differentiation will be made based on race, Department. It was written and edited by Sasha color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, Mandros, with contributions from Paul Helgren, veteran status or the presence of a disability. The university Steve Easton, Brian DeBenedictis and Tracy Mauntler. Photographs provded by Dan Miller, UT photogra- pher. Cover graphic designed by Derek Marckel. TOLEDO ROCKET MEN’S TENNIS | 2016-17 MEDIA GUIDE 2 UTROCKETS.COM /UTROCKETS @TOLEDOROCKETS @UTROCKETS 2016-17 Media Guide UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS MEN’S TENNIS COACHING STAFF Location Toledo, OH 43606 Head Coach Al Wermer Founded 1872 Alma Mater Capital (1991) Enrollment 20,648 Years at Toledo 20th year Nickname Rockets Email [email protected] Conference Mid-American Colors Midnight Blue and Gold Graduate Assistant Coach Mark Singnil Fight Song “U of Toledo” Alma Mater Toledo (2015) Mascot Rocky the Rocket Years at Toledo First year Athletics Website utrockets.com Email [email protected] University President Dr. Sharon L. Gaber Vice President/Athletic Director Mike O’Brien Operations Manager Joseph Eid Senior Associate Athletic Director Kelly Andrews Years at Toledo Fourth year NCAA Faculty Representative Mary Powers Email [email protected] Facebook Facebook.com/UTRockets Promotions Manager Luis Silva Twitter @ToledoRockets Years at Toledo Second year @ToledoMTennis Email Instagram @UTRockets [email protected] @RocketTennis Athletic Communications Contact Sasha Mandros W (419) 530-4925 C (419) 260-9911 [email protected] TOLEDO ROCKET MEN’S TENNIS | 2016-17 MEDIA GUIDE UTROCKETS.COM /UTROCKETS @TOLEDOROCKETS @UTROCKETS 3 2016-17 Schedule DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME Sept. 23-25 at Purdue Invitational West Lafayette, IN All Day Sept. 30-Oct. 1 UT Rocket Invitational Toledo, OH All Day Oct. 1 at ITA All-American Tulsa, OK All Day Oct. 13-16 at Oracle ITA Masters Malibu, CA All Day Oct. 20-24 at ITA Midwest Regionals Columbus, OH All Day Oct. 28-30 at MAC Indoor Invitational Kalamazoo, MI All Day Jan. 18 at Ohio State Columbus, OH 12:30 p.m. Jan. 20 Dayton Toledo, OH 1:00 p.m. Jan. 21 Valparaiso Toledo, OH 2:00 p.m. Jan. 21 Wright State Toledo, OH 7:00 p.m. Jan. 27 Duquesne Toledo, OH 1:00 p.m. Feb. 3 at Marquette Milwaukee, WI 6:00 p.m. Feb. 5 vs. Green Bay Milwaukee, WI noon Feb. 10 Findlay Toledo, OH 1:00 p.m. Feb. 10 Dension Toledo, OH 6:00 p.m. Feb. 11 Wayne State Toledo, OH 4:00 p.m. Feb. 17 at Youngstown State Youngstown, OH 12:30 p.m. Feb. 19 Illinois State Toledo, OH 11:00 a.m. Feb. 22 at Detroit Detroit, MI noon Feb. 25 at Louisville Louisville, KY 10:00 a.m. Mar. 2 vs. Boise State La Jolla, CA 1:00 p.m. Mar. 2-5 at Pacific Coast Championships La Jolla, CA All Day Mar. 17 at Nebraska Lincoln, NE 4:00 p.m. Mar. 19 vs. Wichita State Lincoln, NE 9:00 a.m. Mar. 25 vs. Ball State * Kalamazoo, MI 1:00 p.m. Mar. 26 at Western Michigan * Kalamazoo, MI 1:00 p.m. Apr. 2 Buffalo * Toledo, OH 2:00 p.m. Apr. 7 Ball State * Toledo, OH 2:00 p.m. Apr. 8 Northern Illinois * Toledo, OH 2:00 p.m. Apr. 15 at Binghamton * Vestal, NY TBA Apr. 22 at Western Michigan * Kalamazoo, MI 1:00 p.m. Apr. 23 Western Michigan * Toledo, OH 2:00 p.m. Apr. 28-29 at MAC Championships Kalamazoo, MI TBA * Mid-American Conference match Home matches in bold Home matches held at either Shadow Valley Tennis Club or UT Varsity Tennis Courts TOLEDO ROCKET MEN’S TENNIS | 2016-17 MEDIA GUIDE 4 UTROCKETS.COM /UTROCKETS @TOLEDOROCKETS @UTROCKETS 2016-17 Season Outlook Wermer returns for his 21st season as head said, he will have his feet to the fire when he steps coach of a highly competitive Toledo men’s tennis back on the court. He will be able to step up to the program. Wermer brings his entire roster back for the challenge because he is an exceptional player with 2016-17 season and adds a talented freshman to the tons of potential.” mix hoping to return his squad to the Mid-American Juniors Omar Espinosa (Queretaro, Mexico) Conference Championships. and Stephen Miller (New Albany, OH) will add some “We went through a lot of bumps and bruises experience to the Rockets’ lineup and Wermer expects last year having a team that was made up of two-thirds both to lead the team on and off the court. freshmen,” said Wermer. “We lost a lot of very close “Omar takes his game very seriously,” said matches, and I think that experience is going to make a Wermer. “He came back this fall extremely fit and he big and positive difference for us this year. is an awesome leader on the team. Stephen is also a great leader, and he truly never has a bad day. He has RETURNING ROCKETS a great, uplifting attitude.” Returning to the top of the lineup is two-time Wermer returns six sophomores that provide MAC Player of the Year, senior Stjepan Sisko (Kastel depth and energy to the UT squad in Vince Anzalone Stari, Croatia). Sisko finished the 2015-16 season with (Willoughby Hills, OH), Juan Carranza (Queretaro, an overall record of 25-5 at No. 1 singles and was Mexico), Serjen Olmedo (Antofagasta, Chile), Danilo named first-team All-MAC for the third-consecutive Pejovic (Belgrade, Serbia), Reid Teatsorth (Findlay, year. The three-time Team MVP recorded a career-high OH) and Luka Vitosevic (Belgrade, Serbia). 16-match winning streak (Jan. 30-April 11) and looks Anzalone stepped up to the plate in his rookie to anchor the Rockets in his last season at UT. campaign and emerged as a key factor in the Toledo “Stjepan was out much of the fall so he hasn’t lineup. He posted a 17-13 overall record in singles competed in a while,” said Wermer. “With that being action, including a 5-2 mark at both No. 2 and No. 3 TOLEDO ROCKET MEN’S TENNIS | 2016-17 MEDIA GUIDE UTROCKETS.COM /UTROCKETS @TOLEDOROCKETS @UTROCKETS 5 singles. Vitosevic will provide the Rockets with another threat in both singles and doubles play. He paired up with Sisko to post a 6-3 mark at No. 1 doubles last season. “Vince walks the walk and talks the talk,” added Wermer. “He is a very vocal leader and has really stepped into a leadership role head on. He is passionate about the game and this team. Luka brings a positive mindset to practice and has improved his game a lot since last year.” INCOMING ROCKET The Rockets welcome a talented freshman to the roster in Thawin (Ernie) Suksathaporn (Bangkok, 2017 SPRING SCHEDULE Thailand). Suksathaporn earned his high school’s Most A challenging schedule awaits the UT men’s Valuable Player award as a senior, junior and sopho- tennis program in its 2016-17 campaign. Matches more.