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May 24, 2008

ANDY BRYAN NAMED SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR, FINISHES SECOND IN NCAA III DOUBLES WITH CHARLIE PAUKERT

Graduating senior captain Andy Bryan from Edina, MN left his mark on collegiate tennis. At the NCAA III tournament at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, Andy was awarded the prestigious national Senior Player of the Year Award. Andy has gone undefeated in singles in Division III dual matches for almost two years. The last time he lost in a dual match was February 2007 at the national indoor. The last Gustie to receive Senior Player of the Year was Gustavus assistant coach Kevin Whipple in 2003.

In tournament play this year Bryan lost only twice. First was in the final of the 2007 national ITA tournament, where he lost in three sets to John Watts from Washington University. The second was in the first round of the NCAA III tournament at Bates. Andy was seeded #2, but Fil Marinkovic from Middlebury beat him in a third set tiebreaker and then went all the way to the finals.

In doubles Andy and Charlie Paukert reversed the outcome. They upset Marinkovic and his partner Andrew Thompson, the 2007 ITA national doubles champions. Then Bryan and Paukert advanced all the way to the national doubles final. The last two teams from Gustavus to reach the final round were 2003 champions Kevin Whipple and Eric Butorac and 2000 finalists Matt Lundmark and Michael Hom.

In the team championship Gustavus lost in the quarterfinal round to Washington University. The chance for victory ended when the Gusties were swept in doubles and then lost at #5 and #6 singles. Close matches at #1 through #4 were all suspended near the beginnings of the second sets. Andy Bryan and Mike Burdakin had won the first sets while Charlie Paukert reached set point before losing in a tiebreaker. The loss marked the first Gustie defeat by a Central Region opponent since 1999. Washington University then went on to win the national championship with wins over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Emory University. Since 2000 Gustavus and Emory each have seven final four appearances- more than any other schools in Division III.

Gustavus ended the season with a 29-6 record and a national indoor title to its credit. Over the past seven years the Gusties have won four national indoor titles. Andy Bryan received the MIAC Arthur Ashe Award and the ITA national sportsmanship award. Bryan, Aaron Zenner, and David Koppel received All Conference honors, while other undefeated team members did not earn enough All Conference points because Gustavus split its team against conference opponents. Many team members will qualify at the end of the spring semester for the ITA Scholar Athlete Award for letter winners with a 3.5 GPA or above. Also the team set a new fund raising record for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The 2008 season was a great success from many perspectives.

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 5 GUSTAVUS 0 Lewiston, ME May 13, 2008
1) Charlie Cutler/Chris Hoeland (WU) def. Charlie Paukert/Andy Bryan (GA) 8-5
2) John Watts/Nirmal Choradia (WU) def. Mike Burdakin/John Kauss (GA) 8-6
3) Max Woods/Isaac Stein (WU) def. Ben Tomasek/Nick Hansen (GA) 8-1

1) John Watts (WU) vs. Andy Bryan (GA) 5-7 (DNF)
2) Charlie Cutler (WU) vs. John Kauss (GA) 6-3, 2-1 (DNF)
3) Danny Levy (WU) vs. Mike Burdakin (GA) 4-6, 3-2 (DNF)
4) Max Woods (WU) vs. Charlie Paukert (GA) 7-6 (DNF)
5) Chris Hoeland (WU) def. Aaron Zenner (GA) 6-0, 7-5
6) Isaac Stein (WU) def. Kevin Stickney (GA) 6-0, 6-1

NCAA III SINGLES:
Fil Marinkovic (Middlebury) def. Andy Bryan (GA) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(3)
Michael Klimchak (College of New Jersey) def. John Kauss (GA) 6-2, 6-0

NCAA III DOUBLES:
Andy Bryan/Charlie Paukert (GA) def. Dustin Phillips/David Ashlock (Texas-Tyler) 6-2, 6-3

Andy Bryan/Charlie Paukert (GA) def. Fil Marinkovic/Andrew Thompson (Middlebury) 7-6(2), 7-6(3)
Andy Bryan/Charlie Paukert (GA) def. Ben Stein/Amrit Rupasinghe (Bates) 7-5, 6-4

Guillaume Schils/Larry Wang (CMS) def. Andy Bryan/Charlie Paukert (GA) 6-3, 6-4