THE GUYS OF

THE ROUND TABLE

THIS WEEK:

Which Elon spring sport are you most excited for?

Bambrick:

The spring sports calendar doesn’t create the same buzz as those in the fall and winter, but why? The baseball team is coming off its first NCAA tournament win last season, women’s golf has showed promise with a second place finish and won two tournaments during the fall and men’s tennis coming off a Southern Conference season championship.

Of these teams, I expect the men’s tennis team to have another good season under coach Micheal Leonard. They return their top three players from last season (19-5 overall, SoCon 8-1) led by sophomore Damon Gooch at the No.1 spot. As a freshman, Gooch proved to be dominant in conference play with a 7-2 singles record, leading the squad to a share of the conference championship.

Other key returning players are junior Anuwat Dalodom (11-5, 7-2), senior Sebastian Bredberg (18-5, 7-2), and senior Austin Fenn. Fenn combined with Gooch for a 14-8 doubles record for the Phoenix.

Varner:

Easily, the spring sport I am most excited for is baseball.
As a freshman, I have heard a lot about the baseball team and the success that they had last year (45-18, Southern Conference title and its second ever trip to the NCAA Division I Regionals).

Also, the Phoenix is ranked 44th in the nation in preseason polls and has a schedule that includes trips to No. 2 Miami (FL), No. 3 Clemson, No. 5 North Carolina, and No. 9 Virginia, and home games against No. 5 North Carolina, No. 6 South Carolina and ACC power Wake Forest.

As if that weren’t enough, senior Robert Rodebaugh has been named to the preseason Wallace Award watch list. The award is given at the end of the season to the national collegiate baseball player of the year. It’s great to know we have one of the best players in the nation playing for us.

Hopefully, baseball will be able to unite the school and get more school spirit generated around campus, something that has been lacking recently.

Wilkins:

The sport I am looking forward to the most is not baseball. They won the conference last season and have ten new players and return preseason All-American senior Robert Rodebaugh, which makes them prone for another title run.

I like to look for the sports no one thinks about when they think about championships. I am looking forward to the women’s tennis season. They only lost one senior last year, which leaves experienced juniors and sophomores for this season.

Elizabeth Kernodle finished last season 12-8, in which I think she will continue her winning ways.

I believe junior Whitney Butcher will continue her season-ending two match winning streak. I also expect Butcher and junior Allison Carney will step up as the elder players on the team, which contains one senior.

In doubles play, Kelly Fleck and Evin Prelec will step up and improve on their doubles record of 7-6. Last year’s freshmen, six in all, had their lumps and will play better after a year of experience. Also red-shirt freshman Jennifer Tutti will contribute in her first year.

I think the young women’s team will come together and have a solid season like the men did last season.