Lehigh University Athletics
Patriot League champs hand out postseason team awards
6/11/2013 11:32:00 AM | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Prior to making its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, the Lehigh men's tennis team handed out its program awards last month at its year-end banquet. The Mountain Hawks won their first ever Patriot League championship, and played in the NCAA tournament in Oxford, Miss. Lehigh's 18-6 mark also set a school record for wins in a season.
Three players were recognized for awards at the annual tennis banquet held at the end of each school year. Senior Matt Savran was named Outstanding Athlete, while classmate and co-captain, Andrew Krentz won the team's Scholar-Athlete award. Sophomore Mitchell Petersen came away with the Coaches Award, which is given to the individual who made significant contributions to the well-being of the team in terms of attitude, improvement, or special leadership.
Krentz, a four-year starter and two-year captain for the Mountain Hawks, went 14-7 in singles in 2013, playing primarily at the No. 5 flight. In doubles, he teamed with Ben Gilman to go 16-6 at the No. 3 flight to form the Mountain Hawks' most successful doubles pairing. He is a two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's tennis, and has been named to the Academic All-Patriot League team in three straight years. In the classroom, Krentz graduated with a 3.95 grade point average majoring in Lehigh's Integrated Degree in Engineering and Arts and Sciences (IDEAS) program. Last year, the Glencoe, Ill. native was selected for Lehigh's prestigious Martindale Scholarship, a group of juniors and seniors that actively explore global business and economic issues.Savran, a Wynnewood, Pa. native, held a 17-4 mark on the season, which included a 6-0 regular season record against Patriot League opponents. He was named Most Valuable Player of the Patriot League Tournament, helping lead Lehigh to wins over Holy Cross, Bucknell, and Navy. He also teamed with freshman Jeremy Kochman to go 13-10 at No. 2 doubles. Savran finished his career with a 46-27 career singles record.
Petersen was a second team All-Patriot League honoree on the courts, and was also recognized for his work in the classroom. He was named to the Academic All-League team, holding a 3.46 GPA in Lehigh's College of Business and Economics. The Grand Rapids, Mich. native tied Savran for the team lead with a 17-4 overall singles record, playing primarily at the No. 3 flight. He went 5-1 in Patriot League regular season matches and posted nine wins at No. 2 singles and eight at the No. 3 flight.
Lehigh loses its two senior captains, Krentz and Savran, to graduation, but the Mountain Hawks return all three All-Patriot League selections for the 2013-14 season, plus a strong recruiting class brought in by Patriot League Coach of the Year Wouter Hendrix, who enters his second season.
Story by C.J. Hemerly
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