another smas 109 eason The 2002 men's tennis team posted their best record since joining the NCAA in 1996, leading to a national ranking of 40th. The Bisons went 17-6 overall with a third p lace finish in the Gulf South Conference-West Division.• Amix of senior leaders and freshmen helped the Bisons make their second appearance at the NCAA Division DSouth Regional. Senior Jacobo Martinez finished up an out– standing career, compiling a 40-27 record in singles and a 40-24 in doubles matches during his three-year career. Martinez's 14-7 record for the season earned him his second straight spot on the GSC'5 first team. The San Luis Potosi, Mexico native kept a 3.35 grade point average in marketing, which qualified him for the Verizon Academic All-District VI squad, as well as the esc academic all-conference team. "Jacobo is a great person to have around," coach David Elliott said. "He always displayed a positive attitude and is one of my all-time favorite players that I have coached," Freshmen David Ferreira and Andrew Giron went 10-3 as a doubles combination/ leading the Bisons indoubles winning percentage. Ferreira won the GulfSouth Conference-West Freshman of the Year and a spot on the All-Conference "I do a lot of research by read– mgup on my opponents so I will be as pre– pared as possible to play them. I also watch others that are playing and try to learn their style so I can implement the game plan that will be most effective," • • 244 athletics Second Team witl13 14-1 singles record. His .933 winning percentage is the highest of any Bison netter since Harding joined the NCAA in 1997. Giron went 9-4 and was also named to the AlJ– esc second team. "David and Andrew are two of the most physically talented players we've had," Elliott said. "They showed great maturity for interna– tional, first-semester freshmen." Junior Artur Sikora was another Bison to receive an All-Conference honor. Sikora finished the season with an 11-8 record, bringing his career win-loss total to43-24. Sikora's .642career winning percentage was the 23rd best in school history since 1972. Two other seniors made contributions to the team in2002. KlausSchmidt played 14-3in singles and 11-4 in doubles. Schmidt finished hiscareer with a 41-23singles record .Justin John endedhis college tenniscareer finishing 14-4, the bestsingle season of his career. The Bison tennis team maintained a success– ful record, despite playing a moredifficult sched– ule, Elliot said. All of Harding's losses were to nationally ranked opponents. Five losses came from foes ranking in the top 35 of NCAA Divi– sion IT. -Cody Usher Photo b Jeff Mont ome Senior Jacobo Martinez prepares to return a serve to his opponent at the Harding Invitational April 29. Martinez received Harding's Berryhill Award in May. (Photo by Daniel Dubois) ••~en's 'f;ennis Oklahoma Christian Loss 1-S Hendrix WinS-1 Ouachita Baptist Loss 0-5 Southwest Baptist Win 6-3 Christian Brothers Win 6-0 Southwestern Oklahoma Win 7-2 Rhodes Win 5-4 Lyon Win 9-0 Texas-Tyler Win 9-0 John Brown Win 9-0 Christian Brothers Win 9-0 Ozarks (Ark.) Win 9-0 East Central Win 6-0 Delta State Loss 3-5 Christian Brothers Win 9-0 Ozarks (Ark.) Win 9-0 John Brown Win 8-1 Delta State Loss 1-7 Lyon Win 9-0 Gulf South Tournament Lincoln Memorial Win 5-0 West Florida Loss 0-5 (Photo by Daniel Dubois)
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