MT Trio Receives ITA Yearly Awards
6/12/2024 1:36:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Badenhorst, Bowden and Frantzen all honored in Texas Region
TEMPE, Ariz. – Baylor men's tennis trio of Devin Badenhorst, Louis Bowden and Christopher Frantzen all tabbed 2024 Intercollegiate Tennis Association DI Men's Texas Region Awards, announced by the association on Wednesday.
The Bears filled the Texas Region Award categories with Badenhorst being named the ITA Player to Watch, Bowden earning the ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award and Frantzen receiving the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row.
"I'm really excited to hear that the ITA Texas Region, clearly the best in the nation this year, recognizes the outstanding efforts of senior Chris Frantzen and freshmen Devin Badenhorst and Louis Bowden," said head coach Michael Woodson.
Senior captain Frantzen earned the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for back-to-back years. The Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to men's and women's student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements in ways that embody the legacy of tennis icon and humanitarian Arthur Ashe Jr. The award is given to one student-athlete from each ITA region in each division.
Frantzen was a leader in the 2023-24 season on and off the courts. He was a boost for the Bears in doubles, leading the team with a 21-9 overall and a 13-6 dual-match record. The captain held his longest doubles win streak of his career with 14 consecutive matches won.
Frantzen posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in his MBA program after a 3.85 undergraduate grade point average in finance and entrepreneurship, earning CSC Academic All-District tabs.
"Chris has persevered through many incredible challenges throughout his time at Baylor," Woodson remarked. "Through it all, he grew into a strong leader, mentor and captain. We will miss Chris here on the team, but the mark he left will remain for years to come."
Bowden was named the ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award recipient. The ITA's longest-running award honors a Division I men's student-athlete who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academic and has had outstanding playing accomplishments. The award was established in 1969 in memory of Rafael Osuna, who was killed in a plane accident at the age of 30. Osuna is one of the all-time great collegiate tennis players, winning three NCAA doubles titles and the 1962 NCAA singles title as part of a USC team that many consider to be the greatest of all time.
Bowden posted an overall record of 12-14 in singles and 8-10 in dual-match singles in his freshman season at Baylor. The Potsmouth, England, native's first year was highlighted by earning the Team Big 12 MVP at the Big 12/SEC Challenge (9/22/23), where he earned his highest singles win over No. 78 Enzo Aguiard of Alabama.
"Louis became an absolute rock of a competitor for us this past year, showing grit and maturity well beyond his years. As a coach, the most impressive part was how much class he did it with. A total sportsman in all regards, he is very deserving of this honor, and he is truly just getting started."
Badenhorst, a freshman from Pretoria, South Africa, was dubbed as the Player to Watch in the Texas Region after his first year in Waco. The freshman posted a 14-6 singles dual-match record on courts one, two and three, earning his highest singles rank at No. 75. His 14 singles wins were highlighted by his victory over the No. 30 Sebastian Gorzny of TCU (3/10/24), where he defeated the Horned Frog in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Badenhorst also ended his freshman campaign with a doubles record of 13-9.
"Devin is widely believed to be one of the up-and-coming stars in our sport and showed it throughout the season match in and match out," Woodson said. "Like our peers, I'm excited to see what he can do as he turns the page to his sophomore season here at Baylor."
The Bears finished 18-12 on the year and advanced to the NCAA College Station Regional. It marked the 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for Baylor.
The Bears filled the Texas Region Award categories with Badenhorst being named the ITA Player to Watch, Bowden earning the ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award and Frantzen receiving the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row.
"I'm really excited to hear that the ITA Texas Region, clearly the best in the nation this year, recognizes the outstanding efforts of senior Chris Frantzen and freshmen Devin Badenhorst and Louis Bowden," said head coach Michael Woodson.
Senior captain Frantzen earned the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for back-to-back years. The Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to men's and women's student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements in ways that embody the legacy of tennis icon and humanitarian Arthur Ashe Jr. The award is given to one student-athlete from each ITA region in each division.
Frantzen was a leader in the 2023-24 season on and off the courts. He was a boost for the Bears in doubles, leading the team with a 21-9 overall and a 13-6 dual-match record. The captain held his longest doubles win streak of his career with 14 consecutive matches won.
Frantzen posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in his MBA program after a 3.85 undergraduate grade point average in finance and entrepreneurship, earning CSC Academic All-District tabs.
"Chris has persevered through many incredible challenges throughout his time at Baylor," Woodson remarked. "Through it all, he grew into a strong leader, mentor and captain. We will miss Chris here on the team, but the mark he left will remain for years to come."
Bowden was named the ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award recipient. The ITA's longest-running award honors a Division I men's student-athlete who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academic and has had outstanding playing accomplishments. The award was established in 1969 in memory of Rafael Osuna, who was killed in a plane accident at the age of 30. Osuna is one of the all-time great collegiate tennis players, winning three NCAA doubles titles and the 1962 NCAA singles title as part of a USC team that many consider to be the greatest of all time.
Bowden posted an overall record of 12-14 in singles and 8-10 in dual-match singles in his freshman season at Baylor. The Potsmouth, England, native's first year was highlighted by earning the Team Big 12 MVP at the Big 12/SEC Challenge (9/22/23), where he earned his highest singles win over No. 78 Enzo Aguiard of Alabama.
"Louis became an absolute rock of a competitor for us this past year, showing grit and maturity well beyond his years. As a coach, the most impressive part was how much class he did it with. A total sportsman in all regards, he is very deserving of this honor, and he is truly just getting started."
Badenhorst, a freshman from Pretoria, South Africa, was dubbed as the Player to Watch in the Texas Region after his first year in Waco. The freshman posted a 14-6 singles dual-match record on courts one, two and three, earning his highest singles rank at No. 75. His 14 singles wins were highlighted by his victory over the No. 30 Sebastian Gorzny of TCU (3/10/24), where he defeated the Horned Frog in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Badenhorst also ended his freshman campaign with a doubles record of 13-9.
"Devin is widely believed to be one of the up-and-coming stars in our sport and showed it throughout the season match in and match out," Woodson said. "Like our peers, I'm excited to see what he can do as he turns the page to his sophomore season here at Baylor."
The Bears finished 18-12 on the year and advanced to the NCAA College Station Regional. It marked the 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for Baylor.
- BaylorBears.com -
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