Lehigh University Athletics
Schwartz Signs Highest-Rated Class In Program History
1/3/2024 10:27:00 AM | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Howard Talmud '77 head men's tennis coach Craig Schwartz announced the signing of four new players set to join the team for the 2024-25 season. Rafael Gracie, Victor Imanishi, Nate Raney and Jose Murariu make up a group that serves as the highest-rated recruiting class in program history.
"I am really excited for all four of these young men to be joining our program," said Schwartz. "They all have the necessary tools to be major players from the start. Most importantly, they are all very well-rounded athletes that will have great success in the classroom and community. I can't wait to get started with these student-athletes next fall."
The 2024 recruiting class ranks highly amongst others in the nation, as Lehigh's class features three players in the top 100 recruits nationally. The class also features players from multiple countries, including Brazil and the United States.
Rafael Gracie comes to Lehigh from Brasília, Brazil by way of Grandview Preparatory School and the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Florida. The 6'0 Gracie was an accomplished player in his home country, winning national championships in U12 singles and doubles before moving to the United States. He has competed well in competitions in the U.S. as well, claiming fourth place at the USTA Boys 18s and was the USTA "SPLITZ" Boys 18s champion. In addition, Gracie is a two-time recipient of his high school's Citizenship Award, which is given to the player that displays qualities of leadership, respect, responsibility, and good character.
"I'm looking to attend Lehigh University for many reasons: first of all, because its great level of academics and location," said Gracie. "It is an outstanding campus that felt like a home away from home. Apart from that, I will be able to represent the Lehigh men's tennis team by sharing the court with an amazing coach and teammates and compete at the highest level."
Another native of Brazil, incoming Mountain Hawk Victor Imanishi joins Lehigh by way of São Paulo. Imanishi is a high school teammate of Gracie, as both compete at Grandview Preparatory School in Florida. He boasts rankings of a 10.71 UTR, 17.6 WTN, and is a 4-star recruit according to the Tennis Recruiting Network. He plans on studying Computer Science upon his arrival at Lehigh.
"I chose Lehigh because of its strong academics and competitive tennis team," said Imanishi. "I also believe that hopefully I will become an important part of the Lehigh community."
Thomas "Nate" Raney joins Lehigh tennis from Memorial Senior High School in Houston, Texas. Raney has collected numerous athletic accolades throughout his high school playing career, including All-District distinctions as freshman/sophomore and a Texas 6A All-State recognition as a junior. Other accomplishments include four team trips to the state semifinals and two to the finals, a third-place finish in his region for mixed-doubles as a sophomore and was a Boys UTR Team Tennis National Finalist in 2023. Raney is academically driven as well, evidenced by academic achievements that include the National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and multiple Spring Branch ISD STEM endorsements.
"I wanted to find a school that would challenge me to compete at my best in tennis, but also challenge me academically to prepare for a career after college," said Raney. "The Lehigh engineering program is one of the top programs in the country, and I'm glad that I can be a part of it. Lehigh is also a small school that is in the mountains, it reminds me of what it was like for me growing up in North Carolina. Also, my dad grew up near Philadelphia and I am excited to go to a school where I have family nearby."
Rounding out the 2024 class is Jose Murariu, the highest rated recruit on the Tennis Recruiting Network in team history. Murariu joins Lehigh from the Florida Connections Academy in Parrish, Florida and currently ranks as the 34th best player in his class. The 6'3 player has been ranked as highly as 22nd in the country. He has a career-high ITF ranking of 343 in the world has won four ITF Juniors Doubles titles and has two Singles finals appearances.
"The reason I chose Lehigh was due to their high academic excellence," said Murariu. "The tennis is also played at a very high level and each member of the team plays at that level; it's tough to beat for any team we play. I'm so grateful I could potentially have a chance to lead Lehigh tennis to success along with the help of the rest of my teammates, each doing our best to try and win in our respective lineup positions."
Gracie, Imanishi, Raney and Murariu are slated to join the Mountain Hawks in the fall of 2024. In the meantime, Lehigh men's tennis prepares for its upcoming season that begins on February 3 on the road at Penn State.
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"I am really excited for all four of these young men to be joining our program," said Schwartz. "They all have the necessary tools to be major players from the start. Most importantly, they are all very well-rounded athletes that will have great success in the classroom and community. I can't wait to get started with these student-athletes next fall."
The 2024 recruiting class ranks highly amongst others in the nation, as Lehigh's class features three players in the top 100 recruits nationally. The class also features players from multiple countries, including Brazil and the United States.
Rafael Gracie comes to Lehigh from Brasília, Brazil by way of Grandview Preparatory School and the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Florida. The 6'0 Gracie was an accomplished player in his home country, winning national championships in U12 singles and doubles before moving to the United States. He has competed well in competitions in the U.S. as well, claiming fourth place at the USTA Boys 18s and was the USTA "SPLITZ" Boys 18s champion. In addition, Gracie is a two-time recipient of his high school's Citizenship Award, which is given to the player that displays qualities of leadership, respect, responsibility, and good character.
"I'm looking to attend Lehigh University for many reasons: first of all, because its great level of academics and location," said Gracie. "It is an outstanding campus that felt like a home away from home. Apart from that, I will be able to represent the Lehigh men's tennis team by sharing the court with an amazing coach and teammates and compete at the highest level."
Another native of Brazil, incoming Mountain Hawk Victor Imanishi joins Lehigh by way of São Paulo. Imanishi is a high school teammate of Gracie, as both compete at Grandview Preparatory School in Florida. He boasts rankings of a 10.71 UTR, 17.6 WTN, and is a 4-star recruit according to the Tennis Recruiting Network. He plans on studying Computer Science upon his arrival at Lehigh.
"I chose Lehigh because of its strong academics and competitive tennis team," said Imanishi. "I also believe that hopefully I will become an important part of the Lehigh community."
Thomas "Nate" Raney joins Lehigh tennis from Memorial Senior High School in Houston, Texas. Raney has collected numerous athletic accolades throughout his high school playing career, including All-District distinctions as freshman/sophomore and a Texas 6A All-State recognition as a junior. Other accomplishments include four team trips to the state semifinals and two to the finals, a third-place finish in his region for mixed-doubles as a sophomore and was a Boys UTR Team Tennis National Finalist in 2023. Raney is academically driven as well, evidenced by academic achievements that include the National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and multiple Spring Branch ISD STEM endorsements.
"I wanted to find a school that would challenge me to compete at my best in tennis, but also challenge me academically to prepare for a career after college," said Raney. "The Lehigh engineering program is one of the top programs in the country, and I'm glad that I can be a part of it. Lehigh is also a small school that is in the mountains, it reminds me of what it was like for me growing up in North Carolina. Also, my dad grew up near Philadelphia and I am excited to go to a school where I have family nearby."
Rounding out the 2024 class is Jose Murariu, the highest rated recruit on the Tennis Recruiting Network in team history. Murariu joins Lehigh from the Florida Connections Academy in Parrish, Florida and currently ranks as the 34th best player in his class. The 6'3 player has been ranked as highly as 22nd in the country. He has a career-high ITF ranking of 343 in the world has won four ITF Juniors Doubles titles and has two Singles finals appearances.
"The reason I chose Lehigh was due to their high academic excellence," said Murariu. "The tennis is also played at a very high level and each member of the team plays at that level; it's tough to beat for any team we play. I'm so grateful I could potentially have a chance to lead Lehigh tennis to success along with the help of the rest of my teammates, each doing our best to try and win in our respective lineup positions."
Gracie, Imanishi, Raney and Murariu are slated to join the Mountain Hawks in the fall of 2024. In the meantime, Lehigh men's tennis prepares for its upcoming season that begins on February 3 on the road at Penn State.
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