BEREA, OHIO -- In hopes of continuing his program's successful two-decade run, Baldwin-Wallace College veteran Head Coach Brian Rector hopes his team will build upon a successful 2011 fall season as it hopes to win the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference title and earn the school's first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament berth this spring.

Entering his 23rd season as head men's tennis coach at the College, Rector is the winningest men's tennis coach in B-W, OAC and Ohio collegiate tennis history with a 385-83 career record and an outstanding .822 winning percentage. He welcomes back seven varsity lettermen and a talented group of newcomers, including transfer Alexandre Bourdiaux from France who enrolled following Winter Break.

A year ago, Rector's team finished 21-5 overall and 6-3 in the OAC before falling in the OAC Tournament semifinals. B-W enters the 2012 spring season with a 2-0 overall record from last fall, and Rector feels his team has the firepower to compete for the title.  With seven lettermen, a strong group of newcomers and Bourdiaux filling out the roster, he is excited about his team's prospects.

"We return a solid group of veterans, including our No.1, No.2 and No.3 players in Alex Trzeciak (senior from Avon Lake), Joe Horvath (junior from North Royalton) and Alex Kearney (junior from North Olmsted), and we will be bolstered by the additions of freshman Kyle Patterson (Wooster/Triway) and Alexandre at No's 4 and 5 in the lineup" said Rector."

Trzeciak is in his fourth year at the varsity level. He is a three-time All-OAC and two-time Academic All-OAC selection. He earned his second straight All-OAC nod last season and competed at number one singles. Trzeciak was named to the 2010-2011 Capital One All-District IV second-team after recording a 22-5 overall record, including a 19-4 mark at the No.1 position. He also was a member of the No.2 doubles team with sophomore Brad Minrovic (Akron/Ellet) and the duo compiled a 12-4 slate. In three-plus seasons of competition, Trzeciak has posted  a 71-20 singles record and a 65-26 doubles mark.  Look for Trzeciak and Bourdieaux to play No.1 doubles.

Horvath had an outstanding sophomore campaign with 21 singles wins (21-5 overall), including a 19-3 mark at No. 2 singles. That was after a freshman campaign in 2009-10 when he compiled an even more impressive 24-1 slate, including a 13-1 mark at No.4. In doubles, he is 45-10 the past two-plus seasons. Look for Horvath to be reunited with junior Tyler Beaton (Bemus Point, N.Y./ Maple Grove) at No.2 doubles. Beaton did not play a year ago. Two tears ago, Horvath and Beaton had an outstanding 19-2 mark as the No.3 tandem. Beaton, who also plays goalie on B-W's NCAA Tournament soccer team, also was 4-0 in singles play as a freshman.

Kearney joined the team in 2008-2009 from OAC rival the University of Mount Union and had to sit out the 2009-10 season.  Last season, he played at the No. 3 singles position and posted a solid 21-7 mark. Kearney was also a part of a No. 3 doubles tandem that included Long. The duo posted a 20-4 record to lead the team in wins. At this point, Kearney is not expected to play doubles.

"We also have three players, Beaton, Minrovic and Josh Pecinovsky (sophomore from Columbus/ Bishop Hartley) who will battle for the starting spot at No.6 singles.  In addition, Zach Elbin (sophomore from Findlay) and Andreas Reichert (freshman from New Philadelphia/ Claymont) will push the other three for a spot in the starting lineup.

During his four seasons, Long has a combined 66-20 career doubles mark. This fall, he also played in two singles matches and was 1-1

As a freshman, Pecinovsky compiled a 3-3 singles mark and a 6-2 doubles slate. He was 5-1 in singles and 2-0 in doubles this fall. This fall, Richert was 1-1 in singles play and 0-3 in doubles action, and Elbin was 0-2 in singles and 1-2 in doubles.

"Overall, we have had a strong preseason and the competition has been good for everyone," said Rector. "This is as deep a lineup as we've had in some time. We are looking forward to getting started playing matches this weekend."

Others to look for include freshmen Kevin Baum (Westerville/ North), Carlos Bravo (Cleveland/ Lincoln West), Mike Mullaney (South Bend, Ind./ South bend Saint Joseph's) and Jacob Tate (Massillon/ Perry) and sophomore Kevin Paradis (Olmsted Falls). This fall, Paradis and Mullaney each fashioned 1-1 singles marks while Tate was 0-2. Baum and Bravo did not see action in any fall matches.

The Yellow Jackets open the 2012 season by playing six matches, including hosting four, prior to its annual Spring Break Trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from March 3-10. This Saturday, February 11, B-W hosts Penn State Behrend University at 1:00 p.m. at the Paramount Racquet Club in Medina and then faces Thiel College of Pennsylvania at 6:30 p.m. at the North Ridge Racquet Club in North Ridgeville. The first home march is an OAC match versus Otterbein University at the "Pop" Collins Tennis Complex in Berea on Matrch 24 at 1:00 p.m.

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