Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Tennis Achieves Highest Ranking in School History
March 09, 2005 | Cowboy Tennis
The Cowboys are 8-2 on the season with wins over five teams currently ranked in the top 50 nationally. They boast the second-highest ranking in the Big 12, behind defending national champion and top-ranked Baylor.
In February, the team participated in the prestigious ITA National Indoor Team Championship in Chicago, where they posted a 2-1 record. The Cowboys picked up a 4-2 win over a Harvard team that is ranked 15th this week, and posted a 4-3 win over Stanford, a perennial power that was ranked No. 7 at the time. The Cowboys also came within two match points of defeating second-ranked UCLA in the first round, losing 4-2.
“This is quite an accomplishment for our team, especially considering we have yet to play a home match,” said head coach James Wadley.
The Pokes have risen high in the rankings because of solid play at every position. They are anchored at the No. 1 slot by senior Mark Van Elden. Ranked as high as 13th this season, Van Elden has the capability of playing with anyone in the country, as shown by a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over UCLA's 14th-ranked Luben Pampoulov this year.
The squad's other senior, Boris Kuharic, has compiled a 7-1 record this year while playing mostly at No. 3 singles.
“The seniors have really done a great job this year by providing leadership and playing well,” Wadley added. “All six of the guys have stepped up and had big wins at different times. It has been a real team effort, and now that we have this ranking the bullseye will be on our back the rest of the year.”
The lone newcomer on the team is Artie Burmistrau. The sophomore transfer from Illinois-Chicago has provided solid play in the middle of the lineup with a 6-3 singles record.
The Nos. 5 and 6 singles positions are occupied by two reigning Big 12 champions. Junior Felipe Diaz has a 6-3 record this year at the No. 5 position, while sophomore Daniel Byrnes has rebounded from offseason elbow surgery and is currently on a five-match winning streak.
Doubles play has been equally strong this year. The Cowboys have won the doubles point in all but one match on the season.
The No. 1 position is occupied by Van Elden and Byrnes, who have a 4-3 record on the year. Kuharic and Diaz play No. 2, and have been ranked as high as 40th this season. Their 5-4 record includes an 8-4 win over Harvard's fifth-ranked duo of Jason Beren and Martin Wetzel. Burmistrau and Bohunicky are undefeated on the year with an 8-0 mark at No. 3 doubles, including coming back from a 7-4 deficit to beat UCLA, 9-7.
