Indiana University Athletics
Seniors Shaping Indiana Culture, Bringing Home Wins
10/23/2015 9:35:00 AM | Men's Tennis
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
As Indiana men's tennis got back to work this fall, second-year head coach Jeremy Wurtzman made it clear who was going to lead the Hoosiers in 2015-16.
This is his seniors' team.
"The coaches have really been trying to give this year to the seniors," senior Sam Monette said. "There's five of us, and coach keeps telling us at practice, 'This is you guys. This is yours.' He's given us a ton of responsibility and freedom that's only helped us on the court, off the court and in school as well."
"It's exciting, but it's also a ton of responsibility because everybody is kind of looking at you and what the seniors are doing. It's not always easy to do."
Monette and fellow senior Daniel Bednarczyk responded to the pressures of leading the Hoosiers with a doubles title at the United States Tennis Association and Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Championships on Monday in Knoxville, Tenn.
Monette doubled up in the tournament, also claiming the singles title.
"We've got a lot of leaders on the team and a lot of momentum now after winning that tournament," Bednarczyk said. "I think this team is closer than ever."
That closeness stems from trust, Bednarczyk said. The seniors have been working practically side-by-side with Wurtzman as he establishes the team culture that the Hoosiers will look to build on in the coming years.
On top of finishing out their own individual careers, the added responsibility of shaping the program for future generations of tennis players is exciting, Bednarczyk and Monette both said. But it doesn't come without its own challenges.
"It's not as easy as a student athlete to always give 100 percent at practice, always be locked in at practice and go to school and be locked in at school and then help the younger guys," Monette said. "It's a lot of pressure, but at the end of the day, when you think about it, it's really very exciting."
The early success has extended up and down the lineup. Wurtzman conceded that it was obviously rewarding to see Bednarczyk and Monette win their titles, but he also liked the competitive play he saw out of the rest of his roster in the tournament and in recent practice.
Junior Matthew McCoy, for example, rallied back to win the ITA consolation bracket after initially being knocked out in the first round.
"Overall, there were a lot of positives from that tournament, and it was good that we had pretty much the whole team there," Wurtzman said. "It did feel like a team environment, and I think that helped us come together."
The competition and the pressure that comes with it can't quite be simulated at practice, Bednarczyk said. He feels Indiana is starting to build momentum, which he hopes to continue to build throughout the rest of the fall, into the winter and then in the championship season next spring.
As they go, seniors like Bednarczyk and Monette will be leading the way. Wurtzman has entrusted them to set the tone for the program, and they haven't taken the added accountability lightly. So far, they've responded with bringing titles back to Bloomington in what Monette said has been one of the best falls he's experienced in his career.
"It's an honor and a huge responsibility," Monette said. "If we're able to do it right, it's probably one of the best feelings you can have in college."
IUHoosiers.com
As Indiana men's tennis got back to work this fall, second-year head coach Jeremy Wurtzman made it clear who was going to lead the Hoosiers in 2015-16.
This is his seniors' team.
"The coaches have really been trying to give this year to the seniors," senior Sam Monette said. "There's five of us, and coach keeps telling us at practice, 'This is you guys. This is yours.' He's given us a ton of responsibility and freedom that's only helped us on the court, off the court and in school as well."
"It's exciting, but it's also a ton of responsibility because everybody is kind of looking at you and what the seniors are doing. It's not always easy to do."
Monette and fellow senior Daniel Bednarczyk responded to the pressures of leading the Hoosiers with a doubles title at the United States Tennis Association and Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Championships on Monday in Knoxville, Tenn.
Monette doubled up in the tournament, also claiming the singles title.
"We've got a lot of leaders on the team and a lot of momentum now after winning that tournament," Bednarczyk said. "I think this team is closer than ever."
That closeness stems from trust, Bednarczyk said. The seniors have been working practically side-by-side with Wurtzman as he establishes the team culture that the Hoosiers will look to build on in the coming years.
On top of finishing out their own individual careers, the added responsibility of shaping the program for future generations of tennis players is exciting, Bednarczyk and Monette both said. But it doesn't come without its own challenges.
"It's not as easy as a student athlete to always give 100 percent at practice, always be locked in at practice and go to school and be locked in at school and then help the younger guys," Monette said. "It's a lot of pressure, but at the end of the day, when you think about it, it's really very exciting."
The early success has extended up and down the lineup. Wurtzman conceded that it was obviously rewarding to see Bednarczyk and Monette win their titles, but he also liked the competitive play he saw out of the rest of his roster in the tournament and in recent practice.
Junior Matthew McCoy, for example, rallied back to win the ITA consolation bracket after initially being knocked out in the first round.
"Overall, there were a lot of positives from that tournament, and it was good that we had pretty much the whole team there," Wurtzman said. "It did feel like a team environment, and I think that helped us come together."
The competition and the pressure that comes with it can't quite be simulated at practice, Bednarczyk said. He feels Indiana is starting to build momentum, which he hopes to continue to build throughout the rest of the fall, into the winter and then in the championship season next spring.
As they go, seniors like Bednarczyk and Monette will be leading the way. Wurtzman has entrusted them to set the tone for the program, and they haven't taken the added accountability lightly. So far, they've responded with bringing titles back to Bloomington in what Monette said has been one of the best falls he's experienced in his career.
"It's an honor and a huge responsibility," Monette said. "If we're able to do it right, it's probably one of the best feelings you can have in college."
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/ Men's Tennis
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