PREVIEW: Fresh Faces to Boost Bruin Fortunes in Upcoming Men’s Tennis Season

NEWBERG, Ore. – With only two players back from last year’s George Fox University men’s tennis team, and nine new players on this year’s roster, eight of them freshmen, this might seem like an unusual time for high hopes for the upcoming 2011 spring season – but second-year coach Neal Ninteman could not be more enthusiastic about the Bruins’ fortunes.

“Yes, we are young; we are essentially starting over from ground zero with 10 individuals and no history together, “Ninteman notes.  “But this group of guys is so extraordinary that I wouldn’t put anything out of their reach. It’s clear already that they are building something very special and defining a whole new culture for this program.”

Ninteman, who maneuvered the Bruins through a 5-16 campaign in 2009-10, hopes to re-establish the Bruins as one of the Northwest Conference’s top teams after last year’s eighth-place finish at 2-14.  That wil not be easy in a conference with five teams ranked in the top 15 in the NCAA Division III West Region.  And with the recent change adopted by the conference reducing the post season tournament field down from six teams to four, a place at the table will be hard to come by.  The Bruins’ coach is not bashful, however, in admitting that the team has set a goal of qualifying for the NWC Tournament this year.

“Yes, it is an ambitious goal with only one returner – maybe even audacious,” admits Ninteman, noting that the Bruins have not played in the NWC Tournament since 2002, “but we wholeheartedly believe it is entirely attainable.  So from the first day of practice in the fall, our focus has been to take care of the business of doing everything we can to become the best team we can be.  If we continue to do that, I’m confident the results will take care of themselves.”

The Bruins will be led on their campaign by upperclassman Scott Barnett (Jr., Jefferson, Ore. / Jefferson Christian HS), who was named Second Team All-NWC for the second consecutive year after posting a 10-9 record at No. 1 singles and an 8-11 record at No. 2 doubles. 

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Scott’s caliber to anchor us at that top of our lineup,” notes Ninteman.  “It takes a special kind of athlete to deal with the constant challenge that comes with playing in that number one singles spot, and Scott is one of those guys.  He sets the tone for our team, providing a level of maturity and leadership that makes everyone better.

“Scott has established himself as one of the premier players in this league, and I’m looking forward to what I believe is going to be a great year for him personally.  He is surrounded by such a strong and deep supporting cast this year, with several young players constantly pushing him, that it has helped him take his game to an even higher level.” 

Barnett served notice that he is aiming for another fine season by reaching the final eight in singles in two recent USTA tournament, the USTA Small College Northwest Regional Tournament Sept. 25-27 in Salem, Ore., and the John & Phil’s Toyota Corvallis Championships Jan. 14-16 in Corvallis, Ore.

Outside of Barnett, it will be all new faces on the courts for the Bruins this year.  Leading the new troops is the team’s only other upperclassman, Peter Brown (Jr., Kennewick, Wash. / Kennewick HS), a transfer from Spokane Falls Community College where he won junior college titles at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles. 

“Peter is our co-captain (with Barnett),” comments Ninteman.  “I knew we were getting a great player in Peter, but I was not fully aware of the amazing level of maturity and leadership that he would bring to the team.  He has an incredible work ethic, and when it comes to match play, he is as mentally tough as they come.  He is one of the smartest tennis players I have ever coached, with a keen court sense and the ability to truly craft points.”

Expected to join Brown in contesting for the 2-5 positions are newcomers Justin McClain (Fr., Spokane, Wash. / Mt. Spokane HS), Josiah Jackson (Fr., Ellensburg, Wash. / Ellensburg HS), and Preston Mann (Fr., Salem, Ore. / Sprague HS), a recent transfer from NAIA-affiliated Point Loma Nazarene University. 

“I expect all three of these guys to come in and be an immediate force in this league in those critical middle spots in the lineup,” says Ninteman.  “Looking forward, they all have the potential to play at the highest level in the Northwest Conference as they gain experience and their games develop.

“Justin is special in that he was my first recruit last year who heard the vision of what we wanted to build here and threw his hat in the ring … and he has been all in every day (and night!) ever since.  He is the classic gym rat who simply never gets tired of being on the court and working on his game.  As a result, he has a well-developed repertoire of skill, including superb ground strokes and strong attacking shots on both sides.  He also brings an invaluable contribution to the team through his contagious passion for the game, his joyful spirit, and his great sense of humor.

“Preston has been one of the top juniors in the Pacific Northwest for many years.  He is one of those guys you love to watch on the court – he’s 100% heart and will give it everything he’s got on every point.  He is a true all-court player, with the skills to both grind out long points from the baseline and also seize opportunities to close points out from the net.  He took a few months off during his transition from southern California back to the Northwest, and his game is still a little rusty,  Every day, though, you can see signs of the impressive level of tennis that he is capable of, and as that recovery continues, I expect him to steadily establish himself as one of the top players in the league.”

“Josiah is loaded with raw athletic ability, with the potential to become one of the top players the conference has ever seen if he sets his mind to that goal.  He is a fierce competitor whose game is loaded with all the weapons: powerful and penetrating ground strokes, great hands at the net, and natural speed and quickness.  It’s just a matter of refining those skills and putting them all together.  When that happens, watch out!”

Vying for the sixth slot are rookies Pax Magaway (Fr., Tacoma, Wash. / Steilacoom HS), Andy Tweet (Fr., Camas, Wash. / Camas HS), and the team’s only lefty, Nolan Staples (Fr., Newberg, Ore. / Newberg HS).  Of that trio, Ninteman says, “Andy, Pax, and Nolan are solid players who are capable of stepping in and making significant contributions in our matches throughout the year.

“Pax is one of those players that make the game look easy.  His smooth strokes and fluid movement on the court remind you of some of the pros.  He has the potential to develop into a top-level player in this conference.

“Andy is a big guy with powerful ground strokes that give him the ability to stay on the baseline and control points.  He also has great foot speed that you rarely find in someone his size.  He was a successful player in high school, but his game has already improved significantly as a result of the higher level of training and play he’s experiencing here.  It’s exciting to watch him develop – he has a bright future ahead with the potential to become a real force in this league.”

“Nolan is a gifted athlete whose left-handed game and creative spin can give opponents a lot of trouble.  He is the quintessential scrambler with the ability and athleticism to run down many shots and keep points going.  He just wears you down, and also has enough offensive weapons to finish points.”

Rounding out the roster are Jake Larson (Fr., Springfield, Ore. / Thurston HS) and Luke Giesecke (Fr., Marysville, Wash. / Marysville-Pilchueck HS).  Says Ninteman, “Jake and Luke are young guys who know their playing time is probably limited this season, but they are hard-working and give us some depth in case of injuries.”

Rounding out the roster is Juan Munoz (So., Cuenca, Ecuador / Rafael Borja HS) the only other returner from last year’s squad.  Munoz was 9-11 at No. 3 singles and 2-17 at No. 1 doubles, but his playing time is expected to be severely curtailed this spring due to injuries and a heavy academic schedule.

On the doubles side, Ninteman expects to pair up Barnett and Mann, and Brown and Jackson to in the Bruins top two doubles teams, with a formidable third position being filled by various combinations of McClain, Tweet, Magaway, and Staples.  

“We have lots of flexibility because of our depth,” Ninteman observes, “so there could be quite a bit of shuffling early on as we sort things out and try different combinations.  Ultimately, I believe that, top-to-bottom, we are capable of playing with any other team in this league.”

In addition to the bevy of new talent on the Bruins squad, Ninteman has put together an equally impressive staff to further his players’ development.  Angelo Niculescu, the head teaching pro at the Cascade Athletic Club in Gresham, Ore., returns as an assistant coach for a second straight year, while Alex Martin, the club pro at the West Hills Racquet and Fitness Club in Portland, will also serve as a mentor to the young Bruins this spring.  

“To be able to attract two of the finest players and teaching professionals in the area to assist our program is another sign of the quality program that is quickly developing here,” Ninteman asserts.

“One thing is certain,” Ninteman adds.  “The future of George Fox tennis is incredibly bright.  With the talented young players that are coming in and the plans for new tennis facilities progressing, it’s pretty easy to get excited.”

The spring season gets under way for the Bruins Saturday, Feb. 12, when they host the College of Idaho, an NAIA school, at 1:00 p.m. at the GFU campus courts (or at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton, Ore., in case of inclement weather).  Other non-conference matches will find the Bruins hosting Hardin-Simmons from Texas and traveling to Biola and Occidental.  The Bruins’ 12-game conference slate has them playing each of the eight other NWC teams once, and Linfield, Willamette, Pacific, and Lewis & Clark twice.