Photo by: Todd Drexler
Men's Tennis Announces 2013 Awards
4/29/2013 6:37:00 PM | Men's Tennis
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The University of North Florida men's tennis team has named a trio of seniors as its 2013 end-of-season award winners, as announced by Head Coach Adam Schaechterle on Monday.
Senior Daniel Sotomarino was awarded the Charlie Jenks Osprey Award, given annually for commitment to the men's tennis program. Sotomarino served as one of the team's two captains this season, earning his status as a leader both on and off the court. He was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun in singles for the second consecutive year after a 10-9 season in dual matches. He also proved formidable on the doubles court, pairing with sophomore Norbert Nemcsek to go 6-1 in conference matches for the Ospreys.
“Danny never hesitated to put the team above himself,” Schaechterle said about the departing senior. “He played hard, competed through injuries and, most of all, cared about his teammates like they were his family. This is a special award named after Coach Charlie Jenks, who took the program to another level during his tenure. Danny has lived up to the award's namesake and helped take this team to the next level during his career at UNF.”
Senior Julien Belair was the 2013 recipient of the Sean Maymi Most Improved Player Award. Belair earned his first-ever First Team All-Atlantic Sun honors this season by turning himself into the conference's toughest player down the stretch, as the senior rolled to 15 consecutive singles wins, all in straight sets, to end the season. Playing anywhere in the top four positions, Belair carved out a 18-5 singles record in 2013, including a pristine 8-0 mark in conference play. Belair was just as tough in doubles, as he paired with both Buerchner and sophomore Timo Kranz to win 12 of his last 13 regular-season matches at No. 1 and 2 doubles.
“When he arrived at UNF, Julien was a solid mid-lineup singles player,” Schaechterle said. “This season, he matured into a top-of-the-lineup stud in both singles and doubles. I've never seen a player grow so rapidly in understanding his own game. Julien's late-season win streak showed his complete commitment to his own unique tactics.”
Senior Moritz Buerchner capped off his senior year by being honored as the team's 2013 Most Valuable Player. Buerchner, who was named UNF's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was one of four unanimous choices to the All-A-Sun First Team, the third time in his four-year career that he has been selected unanimously. The senior battled injuries while still carving out a 8-9 record in a season where he faced nine nationally-ranked singles players and notched UNF's first-ever appearance in the ITA National Singles Rankings. Buerchner also paired with Nemcsek in the fall en route to an appearance at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships and a No. 15 ranking in the ITA National Doubles Rankings.
“Moritz' ability to hold down the top spot in singles and doubles, and compete with any team in the country, took our entire squad to another level this season,” Schaechterle said. “He has always been an extremely hard worker that challenged his teammates to improve every day at practice. Later this spring he will also help make UNF's first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament.”
The Ospreys wrapped up their season last weekend in the Atlantic Sun Men's Tennis Tournament Finals when they dropped a tough 4-2 decision to East Tennessee State. Buerchner and Nemcsek are ranked No. 22 in the nation as a doubles pair and are expected to be selected to the NCAA Men's Tennis Doubles Tournament when the field is announced on Wednesday, May 1.
Senior Daniel Sotomarino was awarded the Charlie Jenks Osprey Award, given annually for commitment to the men's tennis program. Sotomarino served as one of the team's two captains this season, earning his status as a leader both on and off the court. He was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun in singles for the second consecutive year after a 10-9 season in dual matches. He also proved formidable on the doubles court, pairing with sophomore Norbert Nemcsek to go 6-1 in conference matches for the Ospreys.
“Danny never hesitated to put the team above himself,” Schaechterle said about the departing senior. “He played hard, competed through injuries and, most of all, cared about his teammates like they were his family. This is a special award named after Coach Charlie Jenks, who took the program to another level during his tenure. Danny has lived up to the award's namesake and helped take this team to the next level during his career at UNF.”
Senior Julien Belair was the 2013 recipient of the Sean Maymi Most Improved Player Award. Belair earned his first-ever First Team All-Atlantic Sun honors this season by turning himself into the conference's toughest player down the stretch, as the senior rolled to 15 consecutive singles wins, all in straight sets, to end the season. Playing anywhere in the top four positions, Belair carved out a 18-5 singles record in 2013, including a pristine 8-0 mark in conference play. Belair was just as tough in doubles, as he paired with both Buerchner and sophomore Timo Kranz to win 12 of his last 13 regular-season matches at No. 1 and 2 doubles.
“When he arrived at UNF, Julien was a solid mid-lineup singles player,” Schaechterle said. “This season, he matured into a top-of-the-lineup stud in both singles and doubles. I've never seen a player grow so rapidly in understanding his own game. Julien's late-season win streak showed his complete commitment to his own unique tactics.”
Senior Moritz Buerchner capped off his senior year by being honored as the team's 2013 Most Valuable Player. Buerchner, who was named UNF's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was one of four unanimous choices to the All-A-Sun First Team, the third time in his four-year career that he has been selected unanimously. The senior battled injuries while still carving out a 8-9 record in a season where he faced nine nationally-ranked singles players and notched UNF's first-ever appearance in the ITA National Singles Rankings. Buerchner also paired with Nemcsek in the fall en route to an appearance at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships and a No. 15 ranking in the ITA National Doubles Rankings.
“Moritz' ability to hold down the top spot in singles and doubles, and compete with any team in the country, took our entire squad to another level this season,” Schaechterle said. “He has always been an extremely hard worker that challenged his teammates to improve every day at practice. Later this spring he will also help make UNF's first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament.”
The Ospreys wrapped up their season last weekend in the Atlantic Sun Men's Tennis Tournament Finals when they dropped a tough 4-2 decision to East Tennessee State. Buerchner and Nemcsek are ranked No. 22 in the nation as a doubles pair and are expected to be selected to the NCAA Men's Tennis Doubles Tournament when the field is announced on Wednesday, May 1.
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