April 28, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Marc Bruche was named to the second team All-Big Ten men’s tennis team at the Big Ten Tournament banquet Thursday following the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
“I’m very proud of Marc for earning a spot on the second team. It’s a great honor given the fact that the Big Ten is such a strong conference loaded with terrific players,” said head coach Steve Houghton. “Part of the reason he getting this honor was his tremendous play in doubles, as well as his great play in No. 1 singles.”
Bruche, a Hoelsbrunn, Germany native, finished the season with 12 singles victories and 14 doubles wins in dual matches this season. All of Bruche’s victories came in No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. Bruche went 13-6 in doubles with junior Will Vasos this season. Bruche had a 12-11 record in dual singles play this season as well.
Bruche has 76 career victories, 44 of which came in singles while 32 came in doubles. For each of the past two seasons, Bruche has manned the No. 1 position for Iowa in singles.
Bruche competed his freshman season at the Baylor University, helping Baylor earn the regular season and postseason Big 12 crown. Bruche transferred to play for Houghton and the Hawkeyes following his freshman season.
In his sophomore year, Bruche earned the Outsanding Newcomer team award. Bruche finished 11-11 in No. 1 singles that season with two victories over nationally ranked opponents. Bruche was also ranked as high as 15th in the ITA Central Regional Rankings.
Bruche also led Iowa this year in the fall season, notching a team high nine singles wins. Bruche won the Northwestern Invitational to claim the Flight A singles titles this fall.
Bruche led the Hawkeyes to victories in singles and doubles in Iowa’s opening round loss to No. 66 Purdue in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday. Bruche defeated Szymon Tatarczyk in No. 1 singles, and teamed up with Vasos to defeat Tatarczyk and Pawel Poziomski 8-5 in No. 1 doubles.
Bruche also led Iowa to eight victories this season, two of which came back-to-back in Big Ten action. Iowa finished the season ranked 69th and was ranked as high as 57th under Bruche’s stellar play.
This is the first season the Big Ten has released a second team all-conference squad.
Fellow junior Will Vasos was a Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree. Vasos led the team with 14 dual singles win this season with a 14-7 record. Vasos also had 14 doubles wins, 13 of which came with Bruche in No. 1 doubles. Vasos is a native of Fort Collins, Col. He has 103 career victories as a Hawkeye. Vasos has been a letterwinner every season at Iowa, and also was a 2010 Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree.
MEN'S TENNIS ALL-BIG TEN TEAMSFirst Team All-Big Ten*DENNIS NEVOLO, IllinoisSantiago Gruter, IndianaJeremy Langer, IndianaJASON JUNG, MichiganEVAN KING, MichiganRok Bonin, MinnesotaTOBIAS WERNET, MinnesotaMatt Allare, Ohio StateCHASE BUCHANAN, Ohio StateBalazs Novak, Ohio StateBLAZ ROLA, Ohio StateIlle Van Engelen, Ohio StateMAREK MICHALICKA, Wisconsin
Second Team All-Big Ten*Johnny Hamui, IllinoisJosh MacTaggart, IndianaMarc Bruche, IowaJosh Graves, NorthwesternDevin McCarthy, Ohio StateMark Kovacs, PurdueSzymon Tatarczyk, Purdue
Unanimous selections in CAPS.* - Additional honorees due to a tie.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDSAthlete of the Year: Chase Buchanan, Ohio StateFreshman of the Year: Blaz Rola, Ohio StateCoach of the Year: Ty Tucker, Ohio State
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREESConnor Roth, IllinoisStephen Vogl, IndianaWill Vasos, IowaShaun Bernstein, MichiganClark Richardson, Michigan StateTobias Wernet, MinnesotaAndrew McCarthy, NorthwesternMatt Allare, Ohio StateBryan Welnetz, Penn StateSzymon Tatarczyk, PurdueMarek Michalicka, Wisconsin="https://hawkeyesports.com/%3E%3C/ahref=">