22 June 2001
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206

Weinert Named Titan Tennis MVP

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Phil Weinert has been named "Most Valuable Player" for the Illinois Wesleyan University men’s tennis team.

Weinert, a junior from Geneva (HS), was 8-12 as the Titans' No. 1 singles player and combined with sophomore Will Weltman (Deerfield HS) for a 10-10 mark at No. 1 doubles.

The Weinert-Weltman team placed third in No. 1 doubles at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet, where IWU tied for fourth as a team.

In his three seasons Weinert has a 38-26 career singles mark, placing him No. 10 in Titan all-time singles victories.

Junior Andy Giordano (Willow Springs, Nazareth Academy) was chosen as the team's "Most Improved Player." In his first season of college tennis, Giordano was 7-15 overall as a singles player, including a 6-6 mark at No. 3, where he placed fourth in the CCIW meet.

Giordano and junior Matt Swanson (Lake Geneva, Wis., Badger HS) were also fourth at No. 2 doubles in the conference tournament and were 6-11 overall as IWU's No. 2 doubles team.

Weltman was the Titans' highest finisher at the conference tourney, earning a second place finish at No. 2 singles. Weltman, who was 14-7 overall in singles this spring, is 25-18 in two seasons and ranks No. 17 in victories among all-time IWU players.

Head coach John Fish awarded letters to eight players, seven of whom return for next spring. The lettermen are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIOR - Mark Thompson (White Bear Lake, Minn., King's, Ohio, HS).

JUNIORS - Marty Gardner (Des Plaines, Elk Grove HS), Andy Giordano (Willow Springs, Nazareth Academy), Matt Swanson (Lake Geneva, Wis., Badger HS). Phil Weinert (Geneva HS).

SOPHOMORES - Bharat Pardasani (LaSalle, Bombay, India St. Xavier HS), Matt Ralph (Caledonia, Rockford Guilford HS), Will Weltman (Deerfield HS).