Feb. 28, 2005
THIS WEEK — The Iowa men’s tennis team will host a pair of duals this week. The Hawkeyes will entertain Drake at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Iowa will open up the Big Ten season against Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Saturday. Both events will be held at the Recreational Building and admission is free.
SCOUTING DRAKE– The Bulldogs will take a 2-3 record into competition. In their last competition they lost to Nebraska (5-2). Last season the Hawkeyes were defeated by Drake in Des Moines (7-0). Iowa leads the all-time series 22-5.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN– The Badgers currently have a 3-6 (0-2 Big Ten) record. The Badgers fell to Michigan (5-2) and Michigan State (6-1) last weekend. Last season the Hawkeyes fell to the Badgers in Madison (4-3). Wisconsin leads the overall series 55-30-2
REMAINING PERFECT — Junior Aaron Schaechterle and freshman J.P. Ritchie have been stellar in doubles play. Schaechterle and Ritchie are currently 7-0 on the season. In a 4-3 loss to Western Michigan, the pair was the only doubles team to pick up a Hawkeye victory. The duo have also been playing well in singles. Ritchie is 5-2 while competing at the No. 3 spot. Schaechterle picked up two victories in his first singles competition at the No. 6 position.
LAST TIME OUT — The Hawkeyes split a pair of dual meets at home. The Hawkeyes fell to Western Michigan 4-3 for their first loss of the season. Iowa then picked up a victory over DePaul 7-0. In the win over the Blue Demons Iowa was victorious in all nine matches.
HEAD COACH, Steve Houghton — Steve Houhgton is the dean of Big Ten tennis coaches and is in his 24th season as head coach of the Hawkeyes. Houghton has a career record of 267-261 (.506). He became the winningest coach in Iowa tennis history in 1992 and is a member of the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame. He has coached 15 players to 29 all-Big Ten selections including Tyler Cleveland, who became the first men’s player in Big Ten history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year twice. Four of Houghton’s athletes have also been selected Big Ten Sportsman of the Year.