The Wolfpacker

March 2013 - Signing Day Edition

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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chance playing singles,��� he said. ���We���re quite happy with the fact that we���re battling so well. ���We���ve got some work to do to get to this point, but we really feel like we can be a top-25 to top-30 team this year. We���ve got to take advantage of a few more opportunities, but we feel like we���re a team that can do that. The team has high expectations for itself. ��� Newcomer To Watch Thomas Weigel The German, who was ranked No. 219 in the world in the International Tennis Federation junior rankings, has recorded 16 wins in his young career, including eight in spring singles play ��� both marks lead the team. 28 ���That���s where we���d like to be, and I think that���s realistic for our young team. That���s saying a lot, but we have objectives of being a top-10 team over the next couple of years. We think we have the players to do it, and the young players we have coming in are really going to help us take another step forward. I think the team understands it and feels it. All of us coaches have been around top-10 teams, and we���re pretty confident we have a pretty good core of young guys.��� ��� Noting The Pack ��� The Pack features two seniors, a pair of juniors, three sophomores and a trio of freshmen on the roster. �����The men���s team boasts a wide array of hometowns, including five foreign players and five Americans. Sweden, Germany, Spain, Brazil and the United Kingdom are all represented on the roster, while a pair of players hail from both Alabama and North Carolina, and another is from Connecticut. ���We���ve got some work to do to get to this point, but we really feel like we can be a top-25 to top-30 team this year.��� ��� Head coach Jon Choboy By The Numbers The Wolfpack opened with a record of 28���12 (.700) in the No. 3-6 single spots through 11 matches, including an 8-1 mark from rookie Thomas Weigel. NC State finished last year with a national ranking of 39th. Senior Dave Thomson and junior Sean Weber combine to form the nation���s No.�� 41 doubles team. The number of career singles wins for sophomores Austin Powell and Robbie Mudge through mid-February. 39 41 70 Key Players To Watch Sophomore Austin Powell The Alabama native was ranked as a five-star prospect by TennisRecruiting.net, and the top-100 recruit recorded 25 wins last year, including 16 in the spring. He already has 13 this year and is ranked as the No.�� 125 player in the land by the ITA. Sophomore Robbie Mudge Mudge was the headliner in the Pack���s heralded 2011 signing class. The sophomore from Winston-Salem, N.C., debuted last season by tying for the team lead with 20 wins in dual singles play, and he faced five ranked opponents while compiling a 6-8 ledger to begin the season. Senior Dave Thomson The fourth-year from the United Kingdom is experienced as both a doubles and singles player, and has recorded victories over nationally ranked opponents in each, while playing on some of the Pack���s best teams in program history. He and Sean Weber had a 13-5 record to start the season, including a win over the nation���s No.�� 8 tandem this spring. Sophomore Austin Powell is ranked as the No. 125 player in the land by the ITA. photo courtesy nc state media relations Key Dates To Watch Wake Forest, March 17, Raleigh ��� The Demon Deacons are currently ranked four spots ahead of NC��State, so this is a good litmus test to see where the Pack stands in the ACC, as well as nationally. Florida State, March 29, Raleigh ��� FSU is another top-30 team, and this showdown kicks off a run of four straight home matches against ACC foes ranked among the nation���s top 54. The series ends with a date against No.��1 Virginia April 7. ACC Championships, April 25-28, Cary ��� The ACC boasts two of the nation���s five best teams in Virginia and Duke, while nine league schools were ranked among the ITA���s top 54 in mid-February. The experience gained from NC��State���s challenging schedule will definitely come in handy this weekend. March 2013��� ������ 69 68-69.Men's Tennis Preview.indd 69 2/26/13 2:37 PM

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