FRESNO, Calif. -- SMU's Genius Chidzikwe and Fresno State's Liesl Fichtbauer were named WAC men's and women's tennis Player of the Year, respectively, following the finals of the men's and women's championship matches on April 29 on the campus of Fresno State. All awards were voted on by the head coaches.
On the men's side, Chidzikwe of SMU was named men's WAC Player of the Year after finishing the season with a 25-6 overall record. Richard Barker of Rice was named WAC Freshman of the Year, while SMU head coach Carl Neufeld was named Coach of the Year.
Chidzikwe, a native of Zimbabwe, became the third Mustang to win the conference's prestigious award. The highlight of his stellar season was a rise to the top of ITA All-American Championships in October where he won the singles title in the second leg of college tennis' grand slam. Currently ranked fourth in the nation, he was also a first team all-WAC selection as well. For the second time in three years, Neufeld was named the Coach of the Year by his colleagues. Neufeld has led seventh-ranked SMU to two ten-match winning streaks this season and will guide the 20-2 Mustangs into postseason action.
For the women, Fresno State's Fichtbauer was named women's WAC Player of the Year after finishing the season 31-6 overall. TCU's Patricia Aburto was named the WAC Freshman of the Year, while Roland Ingram of TCU was tabbed as the Coach of the Year.
MEN
Player of the Year: Genius Chidzikwe, SMU
Freshman of the Year: Richard Barker, Rice
Coach of the Year: Carl Neufeld, SMU
Singles First Team Singles Second Team
Peter Luczak , Fresno State Trace Fielding, TCU
Genius Chidzikwe, SMU Scott Eddins, TCU
Esteban Carril, TCU Toni Gordon, TCU
Jon Wallmark, SMU Mathias Mathaes, Rice
Richard Barker, Rice Krystian Pfeiffer, SMU
Pawel Sebastyanski, Tulsa
Dane McGregor, Tulsa
Doubles First Team
Jon Wallmark/Johan Brunstrom, SMU
Jimmy Haney/Trace Fielding, TCU
Peter Luczak/David Mullins, Fresno State
Doubles Second Team
William Barker/Richard Barker, Rice
Esteban Carril/Toni Gordon, TCU
Dane McGregorShiri Sudhakara, Rulsa
WOMEN
Player of the Year: Liesl Fichtbauer, Fresno State
Freshman of the Year: Patricia Aburto, TCU
Coach of the Year: Roland Ingram, TCU
Singles First Team Singles Second Team
Kim Niggemeyer, Fresno State Alexsandra Durska, Tulsa
Patricia Aburto, TCU Ana Brnas, UTEP
Dee Dee Herring, SMU Megan Russell, SMU
Liesl Fichtbauer, Fresno State Bianca Posada, Tulsa
Katrin Gaber, TCU Jana Perkova, UTEP
Tjasa Jezernik, Nevada Jennifer DeSpain, Tulsa
Simone Jardim, Fresno State
Doubles First Team
Kim Niggemeyer/Simone Jardim, Fresno State
Jennifer DrSpain/Jana Sedivec, Tulsa
Tjasa Jezernik/Biljana Trpeska, Nevada
Doubles Second Team
Katrin Gaber/Carolina Roubickova, TCU
Ana Brnas/Jana Perkova, UTEP
Marjoleen Van Dongen/Alexsandra Durska, Tulsa