MIAC Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2009 MIAC Men's Tennis Awards today, May 7, 2009. Bethel University is represented by five individuals for singles, while three of them also earned recognition in doubles.

As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for men's tennis. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. David Torres (Sr., Arden Hills, Minn.) was Bethel's representative to the team.

Tom Ronning (Jr., Alexandria, Minn.) filled the #1 singles player slot and put together a season record of 13-3 with his only losses coming against two opponents coming from nationally ranked Division III teams and a Division II team. He and partners David Torres and Kent Nichols also compiled an 11-5 record in doubles play. In just two years, Ronning has established himself as one of the premier players in the MIAC. This is his second straight All-MIAC singles and doubles award.





Torres was the lone returning senior to the men's tennis squad and finished his last collegiate season with a 10-6 singles record at the #2 slot and a combined 9-7 doubles record with partners Ronning and Jordan McIver (So., Alexandria, Minn.). Torres put together a career record of 27-23 in singles and 26-23 in doubles. One of the highlights of his career was advancing to the championship match of the Midwest Open last fall in St. Peter, Minn. This is the second All-MIAC singles award for Torres as well as his third for doubles and first for sportsmanship.




Kent Nichols (Fr., Milaca, Minn.) made an impact immediately in his rookie season, amassing an 11-5 record overall and going  7-2 in MIAC play. One of those conference wins was over his opponent from Gustavus Adolphus, making him the first Royal to defeat a Gustie in singles play in nearly 10 years. Nichols also earned an All-MIAC doubles award as he was a combined 10-6 with partners Ronning and Michael Kreklau (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.).





Joel Cassens (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.) held down the #4 singles spot and put together a 9-7 overall record, while going 6-3 in MIAC play. One of the highlights of the season for Cassens was being the only Royal to defeat his opponent from Division II opponent St. Cloud State, giving him six consecutive wins to close out the 2009 campaign. This is the second straight All-MIAC singles award for Cassens.






Jordan LeFebvre (Jr., Maplewood, Minn.) earned his first All-MIAC singles award by going 7-2 in conference play and 10-6 overall. He joins both Cassens and Ronning as the only two Royals to finish both the regular season and playoffs on a winning note for singles.  Last season, LeFebvre was Bethel's representative to the All-MIAC sportsmanship team.