Jan. 19, 2005
WACO, Texas - A large contingent of Baylor tennis fans and supporters packed the "B" Association Room at Floyd Casey Stadium on Tuesday night for the men's and women's annual awards banquet. The event was also a kick-off to the upcoming 2005 season.
Third-year women's head coach Joey Scrivano, who in his first season at Baylor guided the team to its first-ever Big 12 Conference championship, introduced his young 2004-05 squad and honored outstanding performances from last season. Scrivano's current team sports no seniors, only two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen. Returning from last season's team that finished 8-3 in the Big 12 and 13-11 on the season include juniors Daniela Covello, and Zuzana Krchnakova and sophomores Iva Mihaylova, Carolin Walter and Klara Zrustova. Sophomore Zuzana Cerna and freshman Zuzana Zemenova joined the program in September and Carolin Korsawe, a freshman, enrolled at Baylor in January.
Walter who stepped to the No. 1 singles position as a freshman last season earned the team's most valuable player award. She finished the season with a 25-11 record including a 14-9 mark at the top spot and was ranked No. 47 nationally at season's end. Another 2003-04 freshman, Iva Mihaylova, took home most improved honors and Zrustova and Krchnakova shared the team's strength and conditioning award.
Matt Knoll, director of tennis operations and men's head coach, introduced his 2004 NCAA national championships squad and announced annual awards as well. Benjamin Becker, the reigning NCAA singles champion, took home the Dr. Scott Livesay MVP award. Benedikt Dorsch, 2004 men's tennis' No. 1 ranked player, was named the team's most inspirational player. For the second straight season Barry McLaren earned the Jim Schwetman Student-Athlete of the Year award and Matija Zgaga was the squad's most improved player. Jason Gould took home the team's strength and conditioning award.
Four players return off the 2004 NCAA title team and are joined by five newcomers for 2004-05. Seniors Becker and Dorsch return for their final campaign and two sophomores, Jon Reckewey and Zgaga, return as well. Sophomore Michal Kokta and freshman Lars Poershcke each got a taste of collegiate tennis after playing the fall season. New to the program this month are senior Greg Shearer, a transfer from Fresno State, sophomore Vladimir Portnov and freshman William Ward.
Baylor's two seniors from last season, Matias Marin and Reiner Neurohr, gave their farewell speech. During their tenure with the tennis program Marin and Neurohr helped the Bears claim three Big 12 championships and a NCAA national championship. Marin ranks No. 2 on the BU charss in career singles wins with 104 and win percentage (.754), is No. 4 in career doubles victories and sits at No. 2 on the career doubles win percentage list (.745). Neurohr tops the list for career doubles wins with 99 and is No. 6 on the career singles win list with 87. In addition, Neurohr is No. 3 in career doubles win percentage (.707) and No. 5 in career singles win percentage (.640).
