1 May 2003

Weltman Chosen as Titan Tennis MVP

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Senior Will Weltman, who became the second leading singles winner in school history, has been named “Most Valuable Player” for the Illinois Wesleyan men’s tennis team.

For the third straight season Weltman finished second at No. 2 singles in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships. This year he was 22-8 overall in singles, giving him a career mark of 64-37, which places him No. 2 all-time at IWU in victories, trailing only Chad Moser, who was 99-15 from 1995-98.

Weltman finished first at No. 2 singles at the 10-team Illinois-Springfield Hack Kellner Tournament.

Weltman and junior Mike Walz (Bloomington HS) were both named to the second team of the all-CCIW men’s tennis squads, selected by coaches. Playing as IWU’s No. 1 doubles team, Walz and Weltman finished second in the CCIW tourney and had a 19-5 record this season.

As IWU’s No. 1 singles player, Walz was 19-7 and he was 22-10 overall.

Sophomore Jason Love (Antioch, Community HS) was selected as the team’s “Most Improved Player.” Love was 18-12 in singles and 15-10 at No. 3, where he finished fourth in the CCIW meet. In 2002 he was 10-14 as IWU’s No. 3 singles player.

Love also teamed with freshman Ryan Stitt (Cary, Prairie Ridge HS) for a 14-9 record at No. 2 doubles, where they placed second in the CCIW tourney.

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

SENIOR - Will Weltman (Deerfield HS).
JUNIOR - Mike Walz (Bloomington HS).
SOPHOMORES - Pat Fischer (Hawthorn Woods, St. Viator HS), Jason Love (Antioch, Community HS), Dan Zurakov (Niles, North HS).
FRESHMEN - Tyler Smith (Bloomington HS), Ryan Stitt (Cary, Prairie Ridge HS).
 

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206 and/or head coach John Fish, (309) 556-3626