BEREA, OHIO –  The Baldwin Wallace University men's tennis team had an outstanding 23-1 overall record in 2012-2013 and both its team and four student-athletes are being honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for their excellence.  Head Coach Brian Rector, a 1989 Academic All-American, has regularly had his teams listed among the best academically in Division III.

As a team, BW was one of 41 NCAA Division III schools named to ITA Team Award list.  The Yellow Jackets were the only Ohio Athletic Conference team and just one of three schools from Ohio (Case Western Reserve University and Kenyon College were the others).  In addition, four its student-athletes, seniors Brad Minrovic (Akron/ Ellet) and Zach Elbin (Findlay/ Senior), junior Kyle Patterson (Wooster/ Triway) and sophomore Doug Ganim (Westerville/ Olentangy Orange) were named to the 2012-2013 ITA Scholar-Athlete list.  You can view both the team list and individuals at:  http://www.itatennis.com/AwardsAndRankings/Academic-Awards/2013/2013_Men_DIII_AcademicAwards.htm.

"We are extremely pleased to have both our team and four outstanding student-athletes recognized by the ITA," said Rector, the winningest men's tennis coach in the history of the OAC and Ohio intercollegiate tennis with a 437-85 career record with an .837 winning percentage.  "We had another outstanding season and Brad, Zach, Kyle and Doug had a lot to do with our success.

"We have always viewed the tennis court as an extension of the classroom," continued Rector.  "We always ask our young men to make their academic pursuit the most important part of their collegiate tennis experience.  We also know that tennis is important to them, so we try to have a great deal of fun while still maintaining a strong, winning tradition and attitude.  I am extremely proud of all of our student-athletes."

Last spring, both Minrovic and Patterson also were named to the CAPITAL ONE Academic All-District 7 At-Large team and Minrovic, Patterson and sophomore Peter Harris (Akron/ Richfield Revere) were tabbed Academic All-OAC.

This fall, the Yellow Jackets return six lettermen and four starters, including Patterson, Harris, Ganim and Minrovic. In addition, Rector is bringing in his largest and possibly his strongest recruiting class of eight freshmen and a transfer to bolster the squad.  

BW opens the 2013 fall season on Saturday, September 14 when it plays Penn State Behrend (Pa.) and Fransiscan.  The remainder of the fall schedule includes the Oberlin College Invitational (Sept. 21-22) and the annual ITA Central Region Tournament (Sept. 28-30) at Kalamazoo (Mich.) College.

FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact SID Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu and Assistant SID Jeff Miller by telephone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.