Men’s tennis team begins dual matches

By Ram Luthra
Staff Reporter

The six seniors on the men’s tennis team will open their final dual-match season with a familiar scenario that has shadowed them throughout their TCU tennis careers.

The seniors will begin the team competition portion of their season noon Saturday against Texas-Arlington with a new head coach, making it the third new coach the seniors have had in four seasons.

They were guided by the legendary Tut Bartzen their freshman year, Michael Center their sophomore and junior seasons and are currently under the tutelage of Joey Rive.

Rive said the seniors have made a smooth transition during the numerous coaching changes.

Special to the Skiff Senior Trace Fielding serves to an opponent last season at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.

“Typically players have all sorts of problems when a new coach comes in, but it’s a different scenario with this team,” Rive said. “They have been through this before, and they know what kind of things are likely to occur with a new coach.”

Senior Trace Fielding said the coaching changes have benefited him more than anything.

“For me personally, with three different great coaches comes three different great philosophies of the game,” Fielding said. “All three have their own perspectives on how my game, and others on this team, can become better.”

Senior Esteban Carril said the coaching changes have been a tough adjustment.

“It’s really weird to have so many coaches,” Carril said. “Players have to adjust a bit more, but overall, I think everyone has benefited.”

Rive will make his dual-match debut with a talented team who is currently ranked No. 6 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association polls. Rive said he is nervous about his first match at TCU but is looking forward to it.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself and on the team,” Rive said. “I want the players to believe in themselves.”

Fielding said he is looking forward to getting the season started.

“This is probably the best team we’ve had in a long time at TCU,” Fielding said. “In order to be successful, we need to work hard and come together as a team.”

Fielding, who spent the fall semester playing professionally, said UTA is a solid squad, and he expects a tough match.

“A couple of years ago, we lost to UTA and ever since then, we have used that single loss as motivation for our later matches,” Fielding said. “That loss was a huge wake-up call for us, and most importantly, it taught this team not to take anything for granted.”

The appearance of Carril, who is ranked No. 20 in the nation, is doubtful for the match Saturday because of an Achilles injury, Rive said.

Despite the absence of the two-time All American, Rive said the team will be prepared.

“With a team that has so much leadership and experience, I feel that transitions are easier to make and obstacles easier to overcome,” Rive said. “It will be a nice test for us, especially early in the season, but I am confident with this bunch of guys.

Right now the lineups aren’t set in stone.

“I will take it a match at a time to find the best combination, but Saturday will have a lineup similar to last year’s.”

Ram Luthra
r.d.luthra@student.tcu.edu