Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys End Season with Second Straight NCAA Appearance
June 07, 2004 | Cowboy Tennis
The goal at the beginning of the season for OSU was to play its last match in Tulsa, and although it did not quite advance that far the Pokes still had a good season. It finished up with a 17-6 record and a fourth-place finish in the Big 12. OSU finished the season ranked 35th, just ahead of conference rival Texas.
OSU had key wins this season over sixth-ranked Rice and in-state rivals Oklahoma and Tulsa. The Pokes defeated Oklahoma twice during the season to stretch its winning streak to 10 over its bedlam rival. OSU defeated in Tulsa in a match that was seen statewide on Cox Cable
The Cowboys were led by the threesome of Mark Van Elden, Tomas Bohunicky and Boris Kuharic. Van Elden went 19-4 at the No. 1 position and qualified for the NCAA Singles Championships. Van Elden finished the season as the 26th-ranked player in the country. Bohunicky played the No. 3 position and went 18-4. Kuharic played behind Bohunicky at the No. 4 position and compiled a record of 18-5.
All three players return next year as the Pokes will look to make its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. OSU only loses one senior in Yevgen Bondarchuk. Bondarchuk was the only player in the Cowboy lineup who failed to have a winning record, while having to face many ranked opponents at the No. 2 position.
Also returning are Daniel Byrnes and Juan Felipe Diaz. Diaz and Byrnes were the only players to win Big 12 position titles at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions, respectively. Byrnes went 15-7, but had a 6-1 record in Big 12 play. Diaz went 12-9 on the season and had to retire in his final match, which he was leading.
The 2004-05 season has a chance to be one of the program's best with five returning players that all posed significant contributions. With a few key additions the Cowboys will be trying to earn a trip to the 2005 NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas.
