FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S TENNIS LOOKS FOR SUCCESSFUL 2007 CAMPAIGN

When then first-year SUNY Cobleskill Scott Hill stated that he expected 2006 to be a big year for the Fighting Tiger program many long-time NJCAA Region III men’s tennis aficionados politely chuckled. Cobleskill was: coming off a 0-9 2005 campaign, had not had a .500 season in over five years, hadn’t won a conference title in over a decade and was almost eight years removed from their last regional tournament appearance. However after a season that saw Cobleskill: post a 7-2 overall record with victories over three nationally ranked programs, win the 2006 Mountain Valley Conference Championship and place fourth at the 2006 NJCAA Region III Division III Championship with the individual number one singles regional champion; when 2006 Mountain Valley Conference Coach-of-the-Year Scott Hill talks about Fighting Tiger Men’s Tennis, people are now listening carefully.

“Our goal is to defend our Mountain Valley Conference Championship and to return as a team to the Region III Championship Tournament. I think we can do as well as we did last season but that hinges on our two returning seniors Steve Weiss and Andy Stiener helping our freshman class make the jump to the college level game quickly,” said Hill. “To accomplish this goal we need to repeat the type of singles success we had last season and made vast improvement in our doubles play.”

The Fighting Tigers will be led into action this year by the 2006 Region III Number One Singles Champion/All-Mountain Valley Conference Team selection senior Steve Weiss, Getzville, NY, Williamsville North High School. A crafty and skilled player Weiss became the first player to win the regional number one singles title in Fighting Tiger program history and the first Cobleskill player to make an NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament appearance. Rejoining Weiss for the year will be All-Mountain Valley Conference Team honoree senior Andy Steiner, Perry, NY, Perry High School. Steiner is viewed as a tenacious competitor who went unbeaten in league play as a freshman.

The newcomers are led by freshman John Hazelton, Greenville, NY, Greenville High School, who possesses a powerful forehand and a solid overall game which should make him a factor for the Fighting Tigers this season. Joining Hazelton will be freshman Greg Klopfer, Voorheesville, NY, Voorheesville High School, and freshman Andrew Crane, Exeter, ME, Dexter Regional High School, who are excellent athletes with interchangeable tennis skill sets according to Coach Hill.

With the season fast approaching the Fighting Tiger mentor sees exciting times ahead for the Orange & Black this season.

“Once again we are playing an ambitious non-regional schedule with national powers such Suffolk Community College and Holyoke Community College which should prepare us for our regional and conference schedule,” said Hill. “With traditional regional power Monroe Community College [from Rochester, NY] dropping their program this year, things are much more open in terms of the regional title. If we take care of things on our end this could be a very interesting season for our program and our fans.”

The Fighting Tigers will open the season on Saturday March 31st when they host Suffolk Community College at the SUNY Cobleskill Tennis Complex beginning at 11:00 AM. Admission to all Fighting Tiger home matches is free to the general public.