ROCHESTER, NY – The Empire 8 announced its Men’s Tennis All-Conference Team with sophomore Chris Rosensteel of conference champion Stevens Institute of Technology being named the 2011 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Player of the Year.
Rosensteel, a repeat first-team selection and Empire 8 Rookie of the Year last season, finished undefeated in Empire 8 play at first singles and first doubles with Shota Tasaki. He posted singles victories against two other first-team all-conference selections and his doubles wins helped the Ducks to back-to-back 5-0 victories over Nazareth College and Ithaca College in the Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Championship. Rosensteel and Tasaki were named to the all-conference first team squad in doubles.
Joining Rosensteel on the all-conference first team was repeat selection Arik Zeevy, who earned his second consecutive Most Valuable Player honor at the Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Championship. He was undefeated in conference play at second singles (and two matches at first singles) and second doubles with Jason Ringstad. Zeevy and Ringstad were also named to the all-conference first team in doubles.
2010 Empire 8 Player of the Year Josh Rifkin of conference runner-up Ithaca was named to the all-conference first team in singles and doubles for the third time. He and Jimmy Newton teamed up at first singles to post a 7-1 record in conference play and advanced to the semifinals of the ITA Regional Tournament. Rifkin posted a 6-2 record at first singles in Empire 8 play and reached the finals of the ITA Regional Tournament. Newton also earned first-team honors in singles, finishing with a 7-1 mark in conference play at second singles.
Sophomore Ryan McCormick of Nazareth was named to the all-conference first team for the second time in as many years after finishing 6-2 at first singles in conference play.
Senior Gabe Cortes of Elmira College garnered all-conference honors for the fourth time and first-team accolades for the third time. He posted a 6-2 record at first singles in Empire 8 action.
One member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2011 Men’s Tennis Sportsman of the Year Team. Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete’s experience in conjunction with an institution’s educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.
2011 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Awards
Player of the Year: Chris Rosensteel, Stevens Institute of Technology
Rookie of the Year: David Andersen, Ithaca College
Coach of the Year: Steve Gachko, Stevens Institute of Technology
2011 Men's Tennis All-Conference Release