Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ivan Puchkarov
May 09, 2008 | Cowboy Tennis
• No. 3 national preseason ranking
• Central Region Champion
• National Indoor Semifinalist
• 2006 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
• 2006 Central Region Rookie of the Year
• All-Big 12 Selection
• Big 12 Champion (No. 3 Singles)
• Big 12 Player of the Week (4/5/6)
Senior: Despite battling through injuries all season long and rarely playing at 100 percent health, Puchkarov still captured a 12-9 Spring record at No. 2 singles as a senior ... currently ranked 71st heading into the NCAA Tournament ... also excelled in doubles play as he and teammate Dmytro Petrov finished with an 11-5 mark at No. 2 in the Spring season.
Junior: Finished 13-7, mostly at No. 2 singles ... was a unanimous All-Big 12 selection for the second straight season ... spent all spring season ranked in the top 30 ... participated in the NCAA Individual Tournament ... five of his wins and all of his losses came against ranked foes ... clinched OSU's home win over Texas A&M with a clutch three-set victory over Connor Pollock ... was named All-Big 12 in singles and doubles by the Waco Tribune ... teamed with Dmytro Petrov to go 15-5 at No. 3 doubles ... the pair were Co-Big 12 Champions at that position ... the tandem won the consolation championship at the prestigious Pacific Coast Doubles Championships ... the duo had a season best winning-streak of five.
Sophomore: Newcomer who finished the season ranked No. 90 ... compiled a 18-3 singles record, mainly at the No. 3 position ... named the Big 12 and Central Region's Newcomer of the Year ... a unanimous All-Big 12 selection ... went undefeated in the Big 12 and won the conference championship at No. 3 singles ... named Big 12 Player of the Week (4/5) ... had a 15 match win streak, a Cowboy best in 2006 ... defeated Texas' All-American Callum Beale in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1 ... compiled a 12-8 record in doubles play ... teamed primarily with Juan Diaz at No. 3 singles, going 8-6 ... paired with Oleksandr Kotsiuk to go 3-2 at No. 3 doubles
Had an outstanding fall season ... entered the fall ranked No. 61 but has risen to No. 3 in the preseason rankings, the highest preseason ranking in the program's history ... finished the fall with a 14-2 singles record ... defeated three ranked opponents to advance to round of 16 at the prestigious Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Championship ... was defeated by eventual champion Arnau Brugues ... won the Central Region Championship by defeating Tulsa's Ricardo Soriano, 6-1, 7-5 ... entered a futures event in Dallas and advanced through qualifying to the round of 16 before falling to top-seeded Martin Fischer, 6-4, 6-4 ... upset then-ranked No. 13 Luis Flores, Georgia, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round of the ITA National Indoor Championship ... faced Wake Forest's 14th-ranked Todd Paul in the quarterfinals and won, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 ... was defeated by No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Ben Kohlloffel of UCLA, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7) in the semifinals ... teamed with Atrie Burmistrau to go 2-2 in doubles action.
Before OSU: Attended National Tavrichesky University ... won the Ukraine Championship under 16 and 18.
Personal: Born July 26 , 1985 ... son of Valerij and Lydmila Puchkarov ... has one brother, Aleksey ... hobbies include listening to music, playing soccer and watching movies ... chose OSU because of coach Wadley ... enjoys listening to Eminem, 2Pac and 50 Cent ... favorite movies are 8 Mile and Get Rich or Die Trying ... favorite athletes are Mike Tyson and David Beckham.
Coach Wadley on Ivan ...
“He won the Big 12 last season at No. 3 singles. He really blossomed this season by winning our region's single championship. He is ranked as high preseason (No. 3) as we have ever had a player. That is a complement to Ivan. The sky is the limit on how well he can do. We hope he can bounce back to the form he had in November so he can challenge for the top spot in our lineup. He is playing solid at doubles and he is getting better every year. You could not ask for more from Ivan. We might have had two players improve more in this part of the country than any other school with Daniel and Ivan. Not many teams have players that make that kind of leap. We are pleased with Ivan's work ethic and his fight.”
