Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Tennis Set to Open 2012 Season
January 19, 2012 | Cowboy Tennis
Jan. 19, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State men's tennis team begins play on Friday when it travels to Tulsa to take on Missouri-Kansas City at 10 a.m. at the Case Tennis Center. It will be the first meeting between the two teams.
The Cowboys will begin the year with three ranked singles players, with senior Vlad Bondarenko coming in at No. 60, freshman Christopher Haworth at No. 77 and sophomore Rifat Biktyakov ranked No. 89. Bondarenko and Biktyakov also enter the season ranked as the No. 56 doubles pairing.
OSU will be led by coach James Wadley, who enters into his 40th season at the helm of the men's tennis program, boasting a career record of 657-320.
The Cowboys are coming off of a 5-14 season in 2011. Eric West, who led the team with an 8-7 dual record, returns for his senior year at OSU. Also returning are junior Trevor Horstmann and sophomore Brandon Champagne, along with Biktyakov and Bondarenko.
Haworth enters his first year at OSU as one of the highest rated recruits in the nation and the top prospect from Oklahoma. He is joined by freshman Adolfo Aires from Brazil as newcomers on the squad for 2012.
