The defending Sun Belt Conference men’s tennis champions are set to begin their spring schedule against Florida Atlantic University Jan. 18.
Last year’s team performed exceptionally last spring, making school history by qualifying for the NCAA tournament in singles and doubles championships.
Last season’s senior duo of Lucas Santa Ana and Victor Valente led the Panthers to a Sun Belt Conference Championship, qualifying the team for an NCAA tournament bid.
“They left such a big mark, so there’s a little bit of pressure to step in and fill those shoes, but I have also played here for three years, so I know how things work,” senior Thomas Cook said.
“What they did last year was pretty nice. They were great captians and we’re going to miss them,” senior Robert Schulze said.
The focus now is on this season as second year head coach Joerg Bathel feels confident coming into the spring season.
“I think the chemistry between the players and coaches is great. This is my eighth season as a coach, and I dont think I felt like this before,” Bathel said. “I think it will be a fun season, but it will also be a successful season.”
The Panthers are a younger team than last season as they have added five freshman to the squad: Eric Baum and Jannis Koekefrom Germany, Valentin Horvat from Slovenia and Christian Gochnauerfrom Lawrenceville, Ga.
However, the team has four returning players to help lead the them, including Cook and Schulze, who was the Sun Belt player of the year last season.
Cook and Schulze assume the leadership position as they are the most experienced and accomplished on the team. Cook made the first, second and third All-CAA teams for singles and doubles from 2011-2012. He was also awarded Sun Belt player of the week in February 2013.
Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) top 60 preseason doubles ranked Schulze and Sofiane Chevallier at No. 58. The duo’s stellar play last season, posting a 13-5 overall record as well as a 2-0 Sun Belt record, helped bring some national attention to the program, and their experience in the league is a bonus.
“Our freshmen have not played a match, so they need good leadership. What these guys do on match days and also what these guys do when the games get tight,” Barthel said are some of the components that the freshman will learn.
“It’s really more of a psychological thing,” Cook said. “It’s different because you are not just playing for yourself, you are playing for your teammates, the coaches and the school.”
The strong chemistry that Coach Barthel spoke of will be a big help as they have one of the most challenging schedules in program history, according to Barthel.
The schedule sets up the Panthers to be on the road from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2, playing four nationally ranked teams on both the east and west coasts.
After their two-week trip, Georgia State will host six matches from Feb. 7-23. Half of their opponents (Wichita State, East Tennessee State University and Nebraska) are ranked in the ITA top 75.
There are a couple of matches that have been circled on the head coach’s calendar, as well as Cook and Schulze’s.
“As a team, one is definitely Georgia Tech because we came so close last year, and we should have won,” Schulze said. “But individually, obviously Nebraska because I transferred from there and still have friends on the team.”
“One I really look forward to is Wichita State because the winner of that has the chance to play [the University of Southern California], a top ranked school,” Cook said.
The players’ individual goals have not overshadowed the big picture for the two seniors and how they will like to conclude their last season.
“Definitely back-to-back Sun Belt Champions, add another ring,” Cook said.
