Brad Seymour, class of 2009, led the Tigers back into the national rankings with a 13-9 record at No. 1 singles in 2008-09.

Springfield, Ohio — After three straight losing seasons, in which the Wittenberg men's tennis team managed just 13 wins combined, the rebuilding process in the 2008-09 season that netted a 15-8 overall record under first-year Head Coach Justin Stuckey was a surprise, to say the least.

Fittingly, the year was capped by the team's first appearance in the NCAA Division III Central Region rankings since 2003. The final regional rankings of the 2008-09 school year were recently published, and the Tigers checked in at No. 24.

The Central Region includes some of the best programs in the nation, led by national powerhouses Washington University, Kenyon, Gustavus Adolphus, DePauw, University of Chicago, Kalamazoo and Denison. Wittenberg was one of four North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) squads listed in the rankings after the Tigers placed fourth in the NCAC Tournament behind Kenyon, Denison and Wabash, which finished the year ranked 21st in the region.

Wittenberg's women's tennis team, which posted a 15-5 overall record and placed fifth in the NCAC, just missed making the regional rankings. Nevertheless, the Tigers tied a school record for wins in a season while posting the best winning percentage since going 8-2 in 1988-89.

"I am pleased with the results because of the hard work and dedication that both teams put in last season," Stuckey said. "I believe now we are building a strong foundation so that we can raise the bar as we move forward into the 2009-2010 season."

Both Tiger teams return a majority of their starting lineups in 2009-2010, starting with veterans Jayne Miely, class of 2011 from Columbus, Ohio, and Emily Nash, class of 2010 from Hilliard, Ohio, on the women's side, and Bobby Fisher, class of 2011 from Gahanna, Ohio, and Craig Lods, class of 2010 from Chillicothe, Ohio, on the men's. Stuckey said he expects their leadership to be a strength for each team.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Robert Gantt