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Men's tennis dominates at NCC tournament
 Todd Bishop
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When Todd Bishop and Doug Lecy began their tennis careers at SCSU in 1999, they were part of a team that won the North Central Conference Title. Now, as their college tennis careers are coming to an end the pair are once again part of an NCC Title winner.
Prior to the NCC Tournament, which took place last weekend in Omaha, Neb., Lecy had this to say about SCSU's chances: "Northern Colorado is tough. They will basically be our only competition."
This comment could be perceived as being overconfident, even cocky. Or it could be seen as a veteran of the court, someone who's been around the block a few times, simply stating the facts. It was the latter that ended up being the case.
All nine title matches in the NCC Tournament involved players from SCSU squaring off against opponents from the University of Northern Colorado.
"I was hoping to win four matches at singles," said SCSU head coach Jerry Anderson. "That would have put us in a good position for doubles play."
When SCSU made a clean sweep and won all six singles matches, Anderson knew his team had just secured its ninth NCC Title. "Once Josh Lunak won his match it was like the domino effect," he said. "Everybody followed suit and won theirs."
Todd Bishop, Bryan Baumann, Casey Haselwander, Danny Peterson, Zac O'Donnell, and Lunak dropped a total of only two sets as each brought home individual NCC crowns. Bishop was not through winning, however, as he teamed with Bob Skenzich to win the NCC at number one doubles as well.
Baumann and Lunak finished second at number two doubles while Haselwander and Lecy also came in second. The seven championship match victories propelled the Huskies to 43 overall team points and an NCC Title. Northern Colorado finished second with 38 while Minnesota State-Mankato, South Dakota State, and Augustana rounded out the field.
"It's great to have that trophy back where it belongs," Anderson said. "Really, anything could have happened. The guys did everything they had to do to win."
Perhaps the Husky reveling in the Championship the most is Bishop. Last season's second place finish did not sit well with the former SCSU basketball standout. "Todd placed a big burden on himself and kind of blamed himself for the team not winning it all last year," Anderson said. "He was determined to change the results around this year."
Placing undeserved blame on yourself when you own a record of 53-9 is baffling to a lot of people. But Bishop is not simply a really good tennis player. He is also a strong leader who felt that he needed to take full responsibility for any team shortcomings from last year and do whatever it took to correct them this season.
"It's a great feeling," Bishop said of both the individual, doubles and team championships. "It's really been a combination of great players and coaches."
Bishop continued by elaborating on his career as a tennis standout at SCSU: "It's been a lot of fun. (The most fun) part has been the friendships that you form over the years. The matches will come and go."
While Bishop's SCSU career may be winding down, it is hopefully far from over as the Huskies learned that they made the NCAA Tournament prior to leaving for Nebraska Thursday. SCSU will open play against the 19-6 Colorado School of Mines May 3 in Kansas City.
"I know from their rivalry with Northern Colorado that they are a strong team," Anderson said. "It will be a definite challenge."
The SCSU women's tennis squad also competed in the NCC Tournament this weekend, finishing fourth overall. SCSU's Nicole Lechner finished second at number three singles. Doubles action saw Lechner team with Berit Merrill to place second at number one doubles while Katie Zika and Alyssa Lauritsen also came in second at number three doubles.
The women netters tied a team record for victories in a season by finishing 21-6.
Adam Czech can be reached at: [email protected]
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