Aldrich’s Outstanding Tournament Warrants BAA Athlete of the Week for Sept. 19-25

NEWBERG, Ore. - An outstanding weekend in which he became the only non-Whitman player to reach the singles quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA Pacific Northwest Men’s Tennis Fall Championships Sept. 23-26 has earned Shawn Aldrich of George Fox the Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athlete of the Week award for Sept. 19-25.

Aldrich, a junior from Yuba City, Calif., and a juco transfer from Sierra College, opened the tournament by defeating  Atanas Atanasov of Whitman 6-2, 6-2, and Will Agnew-Svoboda of Willamette 6-2, 6-0 on Saturday.  On Sunday, he downed Matt Tesmond of Whitman 6-2, 6-0 in the “Round of 16”, preventing Whitman from securing all of the final eight slots.  He was eliminated 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 by Conor Holton-Burke of Whitman, who went on to lose the finals in a tight three-set match to teammate Andrew La Cava.

In doubles, Aldrich teamed up with another George Fox newcomer, Collin Hammagren of Salem, Ore., to take an opening-round 8-4 win over Ben Brewer and Micah Roos of Linfield.  The duo then ran afoul of Adriel Borshansky and Will Huskey of Whitman in the second round, falling 8-3.  Aldrich thus finished the tournament with a 4-2 overall record.

The George Fox Athlete of the Week Award for both men and women is presented throughout the Bruin sports seasons by the Bruin Athletic Association, whose mission is to provide George Fox student-athletes with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the Bruin athletics program.  For more information about the organization or to become a member, visit the Bruin Athletic Association website. 

2011-12 Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athletes of the Week

Aug. 29-Sept. 4 - Jacob Baker (Soccer)

Sept. 5-11 - Luke Hammer (Soccer)

Sept. 12-18 - Mike Ulstad (Golf)

Sept. 19-25 - Shawn Aldrich (Tennis)