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St. Cloud State University
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Playoff hopes lie with senior duo
By Ryan Atkins
Published:
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Media Credit: Matthew Kaster
The No. 4 ranked doubles tennis duo of Bryan Baumann and Josh Lunak shelter themselves from raining tennis balls during practice at Gold´s Gym in Sartell Wednesday.
It's a wonder how seniors Bryan Baumann and Josh Lunak ended up at SCSU, considering they were both striving to play tennis at the University of Minnesota. But, with the NCC Tournament approaching this weekend, it's a safe bet that the Huskies are counting their blessings.
Lunak, raised in Grand Forks, N.D., was an accomplished prep tennis player while attending Red River High School. He earned a State Championship as a senior in singles, and then was named Mr. North Dakota for tennis in the fall of 1999.
Baumann, currently ranked No. 7 in the region polls in No. 1 singles, attended Minneapolis South High School, did not qualify for All-State honors, but his team was consistently strong within their conference.
Lunak attended the same high school as David Geatz, head tennis coach for the University of Minnesota, and thought he would follow in Geatz's legendary footsteps and play Division I tennis.
But the main reason that Lunak made the decision to rebuff the courting by the U of M, was because he did not want to devote his entire life to tennis.
"It's (tennis on the Division II level) more of make it what you want to make it," Lunak said. "If you want to make it serious you can make it serious, if you want to make it recreational, you can."
That atmosphere assisted Lunak in making the decision to join SCSU and help head tennis coach Jerry Anderson turn SCSU from a good program into a great program.
Joining Lunak and Anderson in this journey was Baumann, who was recruited out of high school by the Gophers, but liked the prospects that SCSU offered.
When Anderson was recruiting Lunak and Baumann, he knew what he was getting talent-wise, but was pleasantly surprised by the intangibles the two prep stars brought.
"They're a great quality of young men," Anderson said. "They represent for SCSU on and off the court. Their work ethic relates well to others."
As Baumann and Lunak entered SCSU, both were shocked but excited that they were instantly placed into the lineup. Baumann became the No. 3 singles and Lunak was the No. 6 singles.
"You don't expect to jump right in," Baumann said. "That surprised me."
Baumann began his first season as No. 3 singles and was pleasantly surprised with his ability to step in and assist the team. Baumann won the conference at No. 3 singles in 2001, while his teammate, and fellow freshman, Lunak, won the conference at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles with Bob Skenzich.
After Baumann's strong start, he was contemplating leaving SCSU to live a dream and play tennis at the U of M. But during the short time Baumann spent at the SCSU campus, he was not prepared to leave the relationships that had already developed.
"I was attached to the guys, it felt bad to leave," Baumann said. "We had a lot of potential as a tennis team."
Baumann continued his progression during his sophomore season by winning the NCC at No. 2 singles.
Lunak also continued his development once again by winning the NCC, but this time at No. 5 singles. He was amazed by the improvement that his teammate had made from their inception season.
"Baumann surprised me," Lunak said. "He really picked up his game at St. Cloud."
Baumann used the play of an old teammate to bring his game to the next level.
"It would be nice to play at Todd Bishop's level," Baumann said, referring to the former SCSU star who won the conference at No. 1 singles in 2002.
Following the successful 2002 season, which led SCSU to their first team conference championship since 1999, Baumann took over for Bishop at No. 1 singles. But in his inaugural season at No. 1 Baumann would finish at No. 2 in the conference for 2003.
Meanwhile, Lunak proved to be a dominant player as he won the conference tournament at No. 4 singles.
Baumann, 19-5 at No. 1 singles, prepares himself to reach Bishop's level and win the NCC at No. 1 singles, but he doesn't want to do it for himself. Baumann's primary goal is to help his team earn additional points, to assist their current No. 7 ranking, because the top eight teams receive invitations to the Regional Tournament.
"(Winning) means more points to the team," Baumann said. "On a personal note, it's always been a goal."
Lunak will compete at No. 3 singles, where he has gone 16-4 this season, attempting to be conference champ all four years at SCSU.
Baumann and Lunak team up for No. 1 doubles, where they are currently ranked No. 4 in the region, and have a 16-5 record this season.
On the court, Baumann is the silent determined one, while the energetic Lunak will pump Baumann up.
"You can never really replace them," Anderson said. "You put someone else in there and hope they can fill the spot in the lineup."
If the Huskies are able to handle the load as a heavy favorite and win their third consecutive conference tournament to enter the Regional tournament for the fourth consecutive year, they'll accomplish a feat that no team coached by Anderson in the last three years has.
Anderson believes the team can make Nationals if they believe in themselves, and follow Baumann and Lunak's example.
"Know you belong and know you can win at that level-believe that like Josh (Lunak) and Bryan (Baumann), and good things will happen," Anderson said.
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