Hawkeyes Travel to the City of Brotherly Love

Sept. 25, 2012

Weekly Release

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s tennis team continues its fall season playing at the Penn Invitational in Philadelphia, Sept. 28-30.

FIRST TIME HEADED TO PENN INVITE
This weekend’s tournament in Philadelphia will mark the first time Iowa has ever played in the Penn Invitational. The tournament will be held at the Lenz Tennis Center, where all matches of the tournament will be held unless inclement weather forces a move inside to Jadwin Gymnasium. Iowa will be one of 14 schools competing in the tournament.

LAST WEEK
The Hawkeyes opened the fall season at the Purdue Fall Invitational and Drake Fall Invitational, sending student-athletes to both tournaments. Junior Joey White led the way at Drake, with a third-place finish in Flight B singles. In total, White won two out of three singles and doubles matches. Play at Purdue was highlighted by freshman Dominic Patrick, who won three matches his first time out. Iowa’s duo of Matt Hagan and Jonas Dierckx won two-of-three doubles matches in Flight A as well at Purdue.

PATRICK MAKES MOST OUT OF FIRST ACTION
Freshman Dominic Patrick was the Flight A Singles consolation runner-up at the Purdue Invitational this past weekend. Patrick started his final day with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Andrew Cahn of Western Michigan, which placed Patrick in the consolation championship match. Patrick fell in defeat to Erik Finkenbrink of Green Bay in the championship match 6-0, 3-6, 10-6. “I was very pleased with Dominic in his first tournament,” head coach Steve Houghton said. “To win three matches your first time out is impressive.”

DUNN, SWANK HEADING TO TULSA
Senior Garret Dunn and Junior Michael Swank will compete in the ITA Men’s All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla. on Oct. 2. Dunn and Swank were selected to the Qualifying Doubles and will be competing together in a single elimination tournament. Dunn and Swank are currently ranked tied for 55th nationally in the ITA Doubles Rankings.

HEAD COACH Steve Houghton
Steve Houghton, the dean of Big Ten tennis coaches, is in his 32nd year as head coach of the Hawkeyes. He has compiled a career record of 332-363 (.478), recording the most wins of any coach in Iowa men’s tennis history.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Steve Houghton
“This weekend’s tournament will be a real strong event and a great opportunity for our guys to plays teams and individuals that they normally wouldn’t come across in competition.”