IWU Sports

2 June 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Senior Mike Walz, who played to a 22-10 singles record this season, has been named “Most Valuable Player” for the Illinois Wesleyan men’s tennis team.

Walz, a Bloomington High School product who played as a freshman and sophomore at Division I Bradley, was named to the first team of the all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squad, selected by coaches. He finished his career at IWU with a 44-20 singles record, and the 44 wins makes him No. 12 among school career leaders.

Combining his 28-38 two-year singles mark at Bradley, Walz’s career singles total as a collegian was 72-58, a .554 winning percentage.

This spring, Walz paired with junior Jason Love (Antioch, Community HS) for a 19-9 record at No. 1 doubles and a first place finish at the seven-team Illinois-Springfield tournament.

Freshman Mike O’Keefe (Springfield HS) was selected as the team’s “Most Improved Player.” O’Keefe was 7-0 playing at No. 6 singles and teamed with junior Pat Fischer (Hawthorn Woods, St. Viator HS) for an 11-3 record at No. 3 doubles.

Freshman Matt Rineberg (Pekin HS) was named to the second team of the all-CCIW squad as he posted an overall singles record of 25-8, including 21-7 at No. 2. The 25 wins is the most at IWU since Chad Moser won 26 matches in 1998 and propelled Rineberg into a tie for 21st all-time at IWU in career singles victories.

Head coach John Fish, whose team finished second in the CCIW tournament, awarded letters to seven players, six of whom return for next spring. The lettermen are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIOR - Mike Walz (Bloomington HS).

JUNIORS - Pat Fischer (Hawthorn Woods, St. Viator HS), Jason Love (Antioch, Community HS).

SOPHOMORE – Ryan Stitt (Cary, Prairie Ridge HS).

FRESHMEN – Mike O’Keefe (Springfield HS), Matt Rineberg (Pekin HS), Chauncey Staples (Greenwood Village, Colo., Cherry Creek HS).

Walz Chosen as Titan Men's Tennis "MVP"