North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Reaps the Benefits of Successful Fall Season
10/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 25, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - A season removed from one of the most successful years in school history, head coach Jon Choboy and the men's tennis team isn't exactly expecting another stellar season to just fall into place. For the past two months, Choboy and assistant coach Matt Halfpenny have been hard at work, guiding the team's 10 student-athletes through a beneficial fall slate of five different tournament appearances, including stops at the Polo Ralph Lauren Men's All-American Championships and the Wilson/ITA Mideast Regional Championships in October.
Sophomore Nick Cavaday, currently No. 65 nationally in preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, fell only three times during the fall, while both highly touted freshmen Jay Weinacker and Chris Welte started their collegiate careers on a solid note. Junior Andre Iriarte (8-4) and sophomore David Rozek (8-3) each led the team with eight singles wins. In total, the team went 64-38 in fall solo bouts.
Following Iriarte and Rozek, four netters collected seven wins, including No. 65 Cavaday (7-3), Welte (7-3), Weinacker (7-5), and senior Will Shaw (7-5).
At the Wilson/ITA Mideast Regional Championships held Oct. 19-23 in Chapel Hill, Iriarte made it to the round of 16 before falling to Virginia's Darrin Cohen, currently ranked No. 45 nationally in singles play by the ITA. Throughout the entire tournament, all 10 members of the team made their way into the main draw, a new record for the Wolfpack. One year ago, only three NC State players competed in the top bracket. This year, six players qualified outright, while the other four earned their way with two wins each in the qualifying rounds. In addition, all five doubles combos were automatically penciled in to the main draw at the onset of the event.
Senior Val Banada (6-3), junior William Noblitt (4-4) and sophomores Ben Zink (6-4) and Mason Schermerhorn (4-4) each offered solid and commendable performances during fall competition. At the Residence Inn North Wolfpack Invitational in September, Banada won the championship in his singles draw, as did Cavaday and Weinacker, with Welte and Rozek falling to their teammates in the final round.
NC State also enjoyed success in doubles this fall, posting a 32-20 record over the course of the schedule. Weinacker (5-2) collected the most doubles wins, bringing in four with Zink and another with Shaw.
With its fall schedule completed, the team will resume practice and individual workouts for the rest of the fall semester in preparation for a busy and challenging spring. The Wolfpack will kick off its spring season on Saturday, Jan. 21, with three home matches against High Point, Gardner-Webb and North Carolina A&T State. All matches will be held at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center on the NC State campus.
Until the spring play beings, be sure to follow the progress of the men's tennis team on GoPack.com.
NC State - Fall Records (Singles/Doubles)
Andre Iriarte: 8-4 / 3-1
David Rozek: 8-3 / 2-1
No. 65 Nick Cavaday: 7-3 / 3-2
Chris Welte: 7-3 / 2-3
Jay Weinacker: 7-5 / 5-2
Will Shaw: 7-5 / 4-3
Val Banada: 6-3 / 3-2
Ben Zink: 6-4 / 4-1
William Noblitt: 4-4 / 4-2
Mason Schermerhorn: 4-4 / 2-3
Wolfpack Totals: 64-38 / 32-20
NC State - Fall Records by Class (Singles/Doubles)
Freshmen: 14-8 / 7-5
Sophomores: 25-14 / 11-7
Juniors: 12-8 / 7-3
Seniors: 13-8 / 7-5
Wolfpack Totals: 64-38 / 32-20
