BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's tennis team under the direction of veteran head coach Brian Rector will have a new look in 2016-17 as it continues its strong showing in the Ohio Athletic Conference and the region.

Rector, who is the winningest coach in program and in Ohio collegiate tennis history, returns five letterwinners and four everyday starters from last year's squad that posted an overall record of 24-5 and a mark of 7-1 in the OAC.   BW was the OAC regular season and tournament runner-up.  The key to Rector's season will be finding the next man up as the team graduated three players that were ranked among the all-time leaders in victories in school history.

"I am very excited about the upcoming season and the challenges of new lineup," stated Rector.  "Despite graduating five starters, the team is focused for a challenging season and run toward the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship."  

Senior Academic All-OAC and ITA Scholar student athletes Nathan Katz (Upper Arlington/Bexley) and Jake Liebler (Medina), sophomore All-OAC player Dominic Polifrone (Hudson) and sophomore Matt Harris (Akron/Revere) return as the team starters.   Katz won a career-high 24 singles matches last season and picked up 18 victories at fifth singles.  Liebler, who is enrolled in BW's one year MBA program, won a career-best 18 singles matches a year ago and earned 12 wins at sixth singles.  In his first season, Polifrone won 24 matches at fourth singles and at second doubles. Harris rounds out the starters as he mainly played doubles as a freshman where he compiled 17 wins.  Harris also earned sixth wins in singles play.

Seniors Brian Carano (Akron/Revere) and Gavin Bushong (Marysville), junior Alex Papke (Federal Way, Wash./Thomas Jefferson) and sophomores Ben Binion (Shelby) and Roger Boyer (Medina/Brunswick) will provide added experience.  Freshman Jake Elbin (Findlay) is the lone newcomer and he will push the veterans for a spot in the starting lineup.

Carano has seen action in singles and doubles over his career and had his best season as a collegian as a sophomore with 16 singles wins and 15 doubles victories.  Bushong, Papke, Binion and Boyer all have played in limited roles.

"I am pleased to announce that the team has elected Carano, Katz, and Liebler to serve as team captains and to lead on and off the court," commented Rector.    The trio will push every player to continue our commitment to academic excellence.  Last year's squad was recognized with an ITA award with a 3.82 grade point average.

The collegiate tennis season is divided into a fall and spring schedule and the Yellow Jackets open the 2016-17 campaign on Saturday, September 10 when they host Grove City (Pa.) College at the North Ridge Tennis and Golf Club at 4:30 p.m.

The 2017 OAC Men's Tennis Championship will be contested in late April and early May at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason.