BIRMINGHAM, AL. --- Texas A&M-Corpus Christi?s Christophe
Bergues (Leuville, France) and Goncalo Figueiredo (Lisbon,
Portugal) were named to the first team all-Independent men?s tennis
squad, it was announced.
In addition to the two first team recipients, Islander head coach
Steve Denton was recognized as the coach of the year, while
Figueiredo and Luis Moris (Concepcion, Chile) were named the
doubles team of the year.
Bergues ripped off a 14-9 singles mark in 2003 and finished ranked
in the top 125 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association final
rankings. The departing senior, who played primarily number one
singles, upset three nationally-ranked opponents including
unseating 28th ranked Richard Barker of Rice in straight sets.
Figueiredo posted a 21-10 mark in singles competition during the
fall and spring campaigns. The sophomore, who registered a 13-3
mark at number two, posted a 12-match winning streak from January
25 to March 18. At the end of the season, Figueiredo took then 42nd
ranked Zoltan Papp of Baylor to a third set before falling 6-1 in
the finale. Six of his 10 losses came to nationally ranked
opponents.
Denton, only in his second year at the helm of the program, turned
the Islanders? fortunes around in a hurry. The former touring
professional saw his squad improve from a 8-12 record in 2002 to a
14-9 ledger in 2003. Denton guided A&M-CC to its
first-ever-national team ranking following upsetting then
48th-ranked Purdue on March 19. Among his team?s other
accomplishments include winning the team title at the UC Irvine
Anteater Classic and grabbing a third-place finish at the HEB
Collegiate.
Figueiredo and Moris formed A&M-CC?s top doubles team and
combined for a 15-11 record for the Islanders.
On the women?s side, Fillipa Figueiredo (Lisbon, Portugal)
garnered first team all-Independent honors. The freshman went 8-5
overall for the Islander women after joining the squad at semester
break. Figueiredo, the sister of Goncalo, was A&M-CC?s number
one single player.
