Improvement is the name of the game in any collegiate sport. Senior Guillermo Gomez took that approach during the 2005-2006 season and as a result Illinois State tennis head coach Greg Kennett announced Gomez as the teams MVP, which was voted on by his fellow teammates and coaching staff.
Guillermo played the best tennis of his career last year, said Kennett of Gomez 2005 performance. He played on a whole other level. It was exciting not only for him, but also for the team because he wasnt going to back down to anyone. He worked on and off the court last year and it showed.
Gomez a San Tome, Venezuela native, excelled in his final year at Illinois State. Playing in the top-two spots all year, the senior compiled an 18-14 singles mark and 17-12 doubles record. He was awarded the MVC tennis player of the week honors for the week of March 21-27 after a dominating straight set 6-2, 6-1 victory over James Wilson of Saint Louis University. Former winners of team MVP accolades are Djordje Uskokovic (03-04), Jason Smit (02-03), Ricky Heath (01-02) and Yew Ming Si (00-01).
Kennett also announced the winners of the Barry Nixon Fighter First Award and the annual strength and conditioning award, which were also voted on by the team and coaching staff. Djordje Uskokovic, a Belgrade, Yugoslavia native, was honored as the Barry Nixon Fighter First Award for the second consecutive year.
The Barry Nixon Fighter First Award was established by former Illinois State head coach Barry Nixon and was first awarded after the 1996-1997 season.
The award is given to the individual who is most determined on the court and who always fights hard, stated Kennett. Djordje showed he was never going to give up and was willing to do whatever it took to win.
Uskokovic played most of the year at the No. 1 position compiling a 15-15 overall record. Uskokovic and teammate Ben Pettinari were 14-6 during the spring season in doubles action. Uskokovic will enter his senior year with 44 career victories and will have a chance to break into the Illinois States all-time top-10 singles victories list if he garners 16 wins during his final year.
Kennett also announced Bloomington High School graduate, sophomore Tim Link as this years strength and conditioning award recipient.
Tim has shown great improvement, said Kennett of Links performance during his Illinois State career. He works hard all of the time. His work in the strength and conditioning room is tremendous and it has translated on the court.
Link finished his season on a strong note winning four of his last five matches. At the MVC Individual Championship, the local product advanced to the finals at the No. 7 position. He finished the year with a 9-6 singles record and 9-4 in doubles.
The Illinois State tennis program will return a veteran cast for the 2005-2006, including Uskokovic and Link. The duo will look to improve on the teams semifinal berth in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament this season.
