Men's and Women's Tennis
Fitzgerald Named to the RMAC All-Century Team
June 18, 2009—The CCU Athletics Department is pleased to announce that Katie Fitzgerald, a former women’s tennis standout from 2000-2003, has been named to the RMAC All-Century Team.
In only three years at CCU, Katie Fitzgerald solidified herself as the most decorated tennis player in program history. A sophomore transfer from California State University—Northridge, Fitzgerald made an immediate impact by providing both leadership and big wins. By the end of her senior year, she had lost only eight singles matches, and was ranked nationally in both singles and doubles competition.
Just as spectacular in the classroom, Katie graduated with an overall GPA of 3.6, received RMAC Academic All-Conference recognition on two occasions, and graduated with honors in 2003. Her community and school involvement far exceed expectations, as she served as Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president for two years, and was very active in ministries all over the Denver area. In the summer of 2003, she represented CCU on a mission trip to Russia.
In all, the Santa Maria, California native received two RMAC Player of the Year honors, three first team All-RMAC Singles nods, two second team All-RMAC Doubles awards, two All-Academic awards, and was named CCU’s 2003 Female Senior Athlete of the Year. In 2005 Fitzgerald was inducted into the CCU Athletics Hall of Fame.
As part of the RMAC’s Centennial Celebration, all time teams are being selected in 19 RMAC sports. The top six men’s and women’s tennis players, in addition to the top head coaches, have been selected by representatives of schools that currently sponsor the sport.
The RMAC’s Centennial Celebration will take place on July 11, 2009 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.
Friesen, Wren named RMAC All-Academic
May 18, 2009—The CCU Athletics Department is proud to announce that Calli Friesen and Andrew Wren have been named to the 2009 RMAC Tennis All-Academic Second Team.
Friesen earned the nod thanks to a strong 3.93 GPA in Business, while playing #3 singles and #1 doubles for the 2009 Cougars.
Wren compiled a 3.28 GPA in Business and competed #4 singles and #2 doubles for the men this year.
To qualify for Academic All-RMAC, student athletes must have a GPA of 3.20 or better, be a starter or key reserve and have completed two consecutive semesters at their current institution. RMAC Sports Information Directors at schools that sponsor the sport of tennis selected the teams. These SID’s took into account the student-athletes work in the classroom, as well as on the tennis court.
Tennis Falls in Round One of RMAC Tourney
April 27, 2009—The CCU men’s and women’s tennis teams closed out the 2008-09 season with losses in round one of the RMAC tournament this past weekend in Denver, Colorado.
The men dropped a 0-6 decision to the Western New Mexico University Mustangs. Clint Walder fared the best for the men, falling 6-4, and 6-0 to Flavio Rueda in #1 singles. The Mustangs clinched a 6-0 victory in singles action and the doubles portion of the contest was not played.
On the women’s side of the action, the Cougars stumbled to an 0-9 setback to Montana State-Billings. Sara Howard put on the strongest show of the day for CCU, taking MSU-B’s Anne-Sophie Tridet to the limit, before eventually falling 6-7, 6-2 and 10-8 in #1 singles.
The men wrap up the season with a 0-13 overall record and an 0-8 mark in conference, while the women finish 0-12 and 0-7 in RMAC play.
Walder, Howard Post Wins, Cougars Stumble in Non-Conference Play
March 17, 2009—Clint Walder and Sara Howard each posted wins in #1 singles action this week, but it was not enough as the men fell 1-8 to Hastings, and the women dropped 1-8 decisions to Bethany and Washington College.
Walder improved to 2-0 on the season by downing a tough Wil Hotz of Hastings by the score of 3-6, 6-13 and 10-8.
On the women’s side, Howard and Calli Friesen earned a #1 doubles victory (9-8, 7-1) against Bethany College. Friesen remained on the winning track in singles, improving to 2-2 on the season against Washington College, with a win over the athlete known only as Innegan.
As a team, the men currently stand at 0-2 and the women are 0-4 in the spring season.
Winona Edges Cougars 7-2 in Spring Opener
March 4, 2009—The CCU women’s tennis team got the spring season started on the wrong foot, falling 7-2 to the Winona State Warriors Monday afternoon at the Cougar Tennis Complex in Lakewood, Colorado.
Playing some of the best tennis of her young career, CCU’s Sara Howard earned a win in #1 singles action, defeating Winona’s Heather Pierce 6-3, 6-3 to mark the Cougars lone singles victory.
#1 was the lucky number for CCU in doubles action as well, as Howard and Calli Friesen stole the show to the tune of 9-7 from Winona’s Pierce and Westerman.
CCU’s Alyssa Johnson put on a strong showing in #4 singles, dropping a three game set (2-6, 6-3, 10-5) to a resilient Holly Peltier.
The ladies are back in action on March 6, when they travel to Pueblo, Colorado to battle the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves.
Howard Goes Unbeaten over Hays and Newman
September 29, 2008—CCU’s fabulous freshman, Sara Howard, put on a show this past weekend, rolling to consecutive victories in #1 singles action over both Fort Hays State and Newman College.
Howard began the weekend with a 6-4, 0-6, 10-8 victory over Gabriela Balarin of Newman University, and capped off the action with a 6-3, 6-1 sweep of Brittany Shea of Fort Hays State.
Sara also teamed up with Anna Carter to log a thrilling 9-7 win over Krista Lindsey and Shea in #1 doubles play.
In addition to Howard’s success, Katy Schnarr defeated Newman’s Danielle Drouhard 6-1, 6-0 in #6 singles.
As a team, the Cougars fell 3-6 in both matches.
The loss wraps up the fall season for the women’s tennis team, who will return to action on March 6 at CSU-Pueblo.
Cougars Impress in Loss to Thunderwolves.
September 22, 2008—The CCU men’s and women’s tennis team put on one of their strongest showings of the year this past weekend against the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves.
On the men’s side of the action, Nate Woodring smothered Eliot Slive 6-2, 6-3 for CCU’s first victory of the year in #5 singles.
The women fared even better, led by Sara Howard and Lexy Stevens, who hammered CSU-P 8-3 in #1 doubles.
Howard kept the magic alive with a 7-6, 2-0 win over Morgan Forsythe in #1 singles, while Alyssa Johnson downed Pueblo’s very own Meagan Clark 6-2, 6-3 in #4 singles.
The Cougars hope to keep the momentum rolling on October 3 and 4 at the ITA Regional Tournament.
Cougars Fall to Metro in Fall Opener
September 19, 2008—The CCU men’s and women’s tennis team dropped their opening matches against Metro State this past weekend at the Auraria Tennis Courts in Denver, Colorado.
The men fell 2-7 to a strong Roadrunner squad. Andrew Bohlen and Nate Woodring stole a victory in doubles action thanks to a Metro default. Bohlen also gained a victory in singles competition on a second Runner default.
Sara Howard led the way for the CCU women, who struggled to a 0-9 loss. Howard put on a strong showing against Metro’s Mitra Hirad in #1 singles, before falling 6-2, 4-6 and 10-8.
The women are back in action Friday afternoon, when they host the Mesa State Mavericks.
Four Athletes named to the RMAC Honor Roll
May 7, 2008—Four athletes from the women’s tennis team have earned a spot on the 2007-08 RMAC Honor Roll.
Suzanne Cazer, Calli Friesen, Elise McKamie, and Katie Schnarr each received the award for their excellence on the courts and in the classroom.
The RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes who have earned a grade point average of 3.20 or better and are a starter or key reserve on their respective teams.
Mark Wray
Men's Tennis
Why CCU?
I chose to attend Colorado Christian University because I knew that growing in my faith was important to me and I felt like the amazing people at CCU could help me do that. I also wanted to play a lot of tennis and snowboard in the ...
