Men’s Tennis Team Takes GSAC Title, Places Sixth at Nationals
6/10/05
Stan Dlugosz has been coaching tennis at Mercer for 34 years. Some of his teams have been especially memorable for their talent and positive outlook, and according to Dlugosz, this was one of those years. With a regular season record of 8-2, the team took the GSAC title for the first time in five years and came in just behind Bergen Community College in the Region 19 tournament, advancing six players to the national tournament in Plano, TX. Starting the season with a 6-3 win over Ocean CC on March 31, the Vikings continued their winning ways. Freshmen Jeremy Schmitter at no. 1 and Scott Zanon at no. 2 set the tone for the high level of play. Accomplished singles players, they were also a formidable doubles team, winning the doubles title at the invitational tournament at Harford College on April 2-3. “Both men are fine players who play an intelligent game of tennis,” Dlugosz said. Also adding to the team’s success were no. 3 Brian Bunn, no. 4 Felipe Faundez, no. 5 Jeff Weber, no. 6 Anthony Neuls, and no. 7 Aidan Thornley. “Weber and Neuls were some of the Vikings’ best players ever at the no. 5 and 6 positions,” Dlugosz noted, while Faundez, a talented soccer player, contributed as well. For his two years on the team, Bunn received the 2005 male scholar-athlete award. At the national tournament every player added to the point toal as the Vikings came in sixth out of 11 teams. Schmitter and Zanon, the no. 2 seed doubles team, lost in the semi-finals. No. 3-seed Bunn and Weber also made it to the semi-final round. Faundez and Weber both got to the semis at no. 4 and no. 5 singles. Schmitter/Zanon were consolation winners at second doubles, while Faundez/Neuls won their consolation final at third doubles. Bunn made it to the semis at no. 3 singles and won the consolation final, while Neuls won the consolation final at no. 6. |
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“These are committed players, who train all year,” Dlugosz said. “As soon as the season ends, they start focusing on how they can improve their games for next year.” Dlugosz was assisted by Marty Devlin and Peter Stratton.
A special highlight
of the tournament for Dlugosz was his selection as this year’s
winner of the 2005 Hershel Stephens Coaching Award. This annual award
is given to a coach for “Outstanding Service and Dedication”
by the NJCAA Tennis Coaches Association.
