CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Six singles players and a pair of doubles teams from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi made their way onto the All-Southland men's tennis teams announced by the conference office Thursday.
The Islanders are the only team to have each of their six singles players recognized by the conference with Ricardo Mayagoitia leading the way earning First Team All-Southland honors. A trio of Islanders followed on the second team with Javier Pujol, Guillaume Rauseo and Arthur Bedel each finding a spot on the All-Southland lists. Finally, Kevin Bettendroffer and Paul Cook picked up honorable mention recognition to give the Islanders all six singles players on the All-Southland teams.
""These guys did a great job this year in sustaining the respected culture of the Islanders," said Director of Tennis Steve Moore. "Our team philosophy and the way we run the team here is very distinct and very different. It's never about one person or even one year, it's about a long-term sustained culture. We run the team like a family."
For Mayagoitia, the first team selection marks the fourth consecutive as the senior will finish his career with an All-Southland First Team honor in each season. Playing at No. 2 this season, Mayagoitia compiled a 16-3 mark overall to match his career high in wins. The 16 victories are also tied for the team lead this season alongside Bettendroffer. Mayagoitia was 4-1 in Southland play to lead the Islanders this season.
On the second team, Pujol, Rauseo and Bedel found their respective slots at three, four and five. Pujol finished off his senior season with a 10-6 mark, giving him four seasons of double-digit wins. The second team selection is just the fourth Islander to accomplish that feat and ranks fourth all-time with 47 wins. Like Mayagoitia, Pujol's second team honor marks a fourth consecutive season with All-Southland honors for the senior.
Rauseo, another senior, earned his third overall All-Southland award after a second straight 12-win season. The Frenchman went 12-9 on the season and added a 3-2 mark in Southland play. Another of the greats to leave an indelible mark on the Islanders, Rauseo finished the regular season with 43 wins, ranking him fifth all-time.
Just a sophomore, Bedel made major gains as the season progressed and proved to be a force in the Southland. At No. 5, Bedel went 3-1 in conference action and posted a 10-7 mark overall. The second team selection marks the first time Bedel has garnered All-Southland recognition in singles play and his second overall award.
Rounding out the six selections for the Islanders are Bettendroffer and Cook on the honorable mention squad. For Bettendroffer, it was the junior's second consecutive All-Southland selection after earning first team recognition a season ago. The now No. 1 produced a 16-3 record to tie Mayagoitia for the best record on the season and a 3-1 mark in conference play.
Cook meanwhile went 12-5 at the six spot in the lineup. The junior added a 3-1 record in Southland play and picked up his second All-Southland selection of his career. The 12 wins are the most for Cook in his three years with the Islanders.
TWO FOR DOUBLES
The Islanders placed a pair of doubles teams on the All-Southland teams with Bettendroffer and Bedel earning second team recognition at No. 1. The duo went 9-5 overall on the season and was 3-2 in conference play. For both Bedel and Bettedroffer, it was their second doubles selection, but first as a pairing.
At No. 2, the all-senior pairing of Mayagoitia and Rauseo earned honorable mention with an 11-5 mark overall and a 3-2 record in Southland matches. For Mayagoitia it is his third doubles recognition as an Islander while Rauseo picked up his second doubles award.
READY TO FIGHT
The Islanders look to bounce back at the Southland Conference Tournament which opens Saturday versus New Orleans. The Blue and Green earned the No. 2 seed at the tournament and are aiming to return to the NCAA Championships with a title
