Men's Tennis

'Wick Men's Tennis Opens Season Sunday Versus Elmhurst

ONEONTA, NY - The 2009 Hartwick College men's tennis season begins Sunday afternoon in Hilton Head, SC in the first of four matches on the week-long trip. The goal for this season's squad is simple - earn a spot in the Empire 8 Tournament in early May. Tenth-year head coach Andy Pontius believes the Hawks have the firepower to do it.

Hartwick is a young team with only three upperclassmen on the 11-man roster, but the talent level from last season' s 5-10 unit has risen to another level. In addition, the Hawks have worked extremely hard in the off-season and are a much more fit, athletic squad than a year ago.

At number one and number two singles, is a pair of talented freshmen in Jeff Boyd (West Newbury, MA/Pentucket Reg.) and Marcelo Navarro (San Juan, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy).

Boyd possesses a solid all-around game. In the fall, he competed at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Junior Team Tennis Nationals in Mobile, AL placing 10th with his squad out of 32 teams from around the country.

Navarro trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and is a USTA ranked player. He is a hard-hitting, exciting player who will be a shot maker for the Hawks at the number two spot.

The duo will also compete as Hartwick's top doubles team. Boyd and Navarro earned a victory in the fall at the ITA Northeast Regional Tournament in Willingboro, NJ and will be counted upon to score more victories for the Hawks this spring.

Competing in the third singles slot is captain Matt Whitty (St. Catherines, ON/Ridley College). Whitty is a hard-working, athletic player that has been with the program for three seasons. He has steadily progressed as a player since his freshman season and will crack the lineup as a junior.

Sophomore Sean Barr (Scarsdale, NY/Edgemont) is the lone returning player from last season's starting lineup. In 2008, Barr went 10-4 in singles play winning his final three matches and seven of his last 10 of the season. Pontius hopes for Barr's success to continue in 2009 after a brilliant freshman campaign with the Hawks.

The third freshman in the lineup, Peter Dumas (Albany, NY/Colonie), will compete at the fifth singles flight for 'Wick. The 6-2 newcomer boasts a big serve and is one of the hardest working players on this year's team. The Albany native, although only with the program for a short time, already has shown drastic improvement and will be a key to the Hawks' success in '09.

Rounding out the starting lineup will be sophomore Michael Del Rosario (Troy, NY/Stanford). He has steadily improved since arriving at 'Wick and possesses a good all-around game.

Whitty and Dumas will team up at number two doubles this season. The pair will be an imposing force for the Hawks as both stand over 6-1. They are both big, athletic players who will be an intimidating duo to face for Hartwick opponents in 2009.

Barr and Del Rosario will round out the doubles lineup in the number three position. Barr won four matches for 'Wick in doubles action last season.

Senior Martin Nee (York, ME/York), junior Sunil Mickelson (Buxton, ME/Bonny Eagle), sophomore Ben Wronkoski (Salisbury Center, NY/Dolgeville), and freshmen Bobby Amberson (Middletown, NY/Middletown) and Ron Lambertson (Wawarsing, NY/Ellenville) complete the 2009 Hartwick roster.