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May 21, 1997
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Clemson men's tennis player, Mitch Sprengelmeyer (Florence, SC) has won two national awards as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Thursday.
Sprengelmeyer won the ITA Senior Player-of-the-Year Award and the Van Nostrand Memorial Award. He is the first player in history to win both of these national awards.
The ITA Senior Player-of-the-Year Award is given annually to the senior player who has improved the most during his collegiate career. It goes to the player who has displayed sportsmanship, character and leadership and as a senior is among the best collegiate players in the United States.
The Van Nostrand Memorial Award is presented to the senior collegiate player who has the most potential for a professional tennis career.
Sprengelmeyer is a 1996 doubles All-American and is also a 1997 All-American in singles as he was seeded 9-16 in the NCAA Singles Tournament. Currently, Sprengelmeyer is ranked 12th by the latest ITA singles poll. He was also named Atlantic Coast Conference Player-of-the-Year.
Sprengelmeyer finished his senior season with a 36-7 record in singles play for a .837 pct. The .837 pct is the fourth best ever in a single season by a Clemson player. Sprengelmeyer finished his singles career with 115 wins, 10th in Clemson history for most singles wins. Sprengelmeyer also has 112 doubles victories. He is eighth on Clemson's list for most career doubles victories. He is the 11th player in Clemson history to reach the century mark in both singles and doubles victories. He is also the first player since the 1989 season to reach the century mark in both singles and doubles play.
Clemson's Mitch Sprengelmeyer and Bruce Li will participate in the NCAA Men's Individual Tournament beginning today (Thursday, May 22). The doubles team of Mitch Sprengelmeyer and Bruce Li are ranked 23rd.
"I am very happy for Mitch as these prestigious awards take in account a player's character as well as his playing ability," said Clemson Men's Tennis Coach Chuck Kriese. "Mitch is well deserving because of his hard work and dedication during his career."
"Winning these awards came as a big surprise to me," said Mitch Sprengelmeyer. "It feels good to win the awards and it has shown me that hard work pays off. I am very honored to be recognized by other coaches and by my peers. I could not have been successful without the help of my coaches and teammates. Coach Kriese has been a big part in my development as a player and as a person."
In the history of the ITA Awards Clemson players have won these national awards:
ITA Senior Player-of-the-Year
1980 Mike Gandolfo
1982 Mark Dickson
1983 Jean Desdunes
1997 Mitch Sprengelmeyer
Van Nostrand Memorial Award
Senior having the most potential for a professional tennis career
1986 Richard Matuszewski
1997 Mitch Sprengelmeyer
ITA Rookie-of-the-Year
1984 Lawson Duncan
ITA Osuna Award (Sportsmanship)
1984 Rick Rudeen
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