From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
The announcement of a No. 8 national ranking and two Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Americans put the official cap on a historic season for the Case Western Reserve University men's team.
"If I had to sum up this season in one word – rewarding," Head Coach Todd Wojtkowski said. "This process started six years ago with that year's seniors that got the ball rolling. Last year, we graduated our first recruiting class. Now this year, we graduated a senior class that has yet again lifted the program to a place it has never been."
The No. 8 spot in the ITA Top 30 is the highest final ranking in school history and the second highest ranking for the program overall (No. 7 in February of 2013). Sophomore Christopher Krimbill (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain) was also tabbed as an ITA All-American in singles and doubles, while senior Eric Klawitter (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) earns the honor in doubles play.
Krimbill and Klawitter won the 2014 NCAA Doubles Championship, the first national title in program history, late last month in Claremont, California. Both were automatic selections for All-America based on their performances at the NCAA Championship Tournament. Krimbill was an All-American for singles last season as well, and Klawitter ends his career as the school's all-time leader in singles wins (75) and combined victories (140).
The national championship came just days after the Spartans (17-8) became the first team in school history to play in the NCAA Elite 8. CWRU reached that point with a 5-4 triumph at arch rival Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) in the NCAA Regional Championship Match.
"Each of the last six seasons has shown significant growth, and each has been equally vital in putting our program in position to compete for a national championship each year," said Wojtkowski. "One of my favorite sayings is that belief is the difference between a winning strategy and a losing one. No strategy is set out as a losing strategy. The rewarding feeling comes from the fact that all of our guys believe 100% that we have a plan in place that will work."
Under Wojtkowski's tutelage, the team has posted a combined dual match record of 66-31 (.680) over the last four seasons while competing annually against some of the toughest schedules in the nation. The program has also been nationally ranked in each season and welcomed five consecutive nationally ranked recruiting classes.
"We are still looking ahead," stated Wojtkowski. "There is still room in front of us to show even more growth. Our work is never done."
2014 Accolades and Achievements
Team
NCAA Elite 8 (first in school history)
NCAA Regional Tournament Champions
ITA National Team Indoor Championship Final 4
Four wins versus nationally ranked teams and two wins versus top
five teams
Head Coach Todd Wojtkowski
USTA/ITA Sectional Campus & Community Outreach Award
CJ Krimbill
NCAA Doubles Champion
Capital One Academic All-America® At-Large Second Team
Capital One Academic All-District VII First Team
ITA All-American (singles and doubles)
No. 6 ranked singles player in the nation
No. 1 ranked singles player in the ITA Central Region
All-UAA Second Team (first singles)
Program single-season singles wins record (26)
Tied own program single-season doubles wins record (31)
UAA All-Academic
Three-time UAA Player of the Week (4/7, 2/24, 9/16)
Eric Klawitter
NCAA Doubles Champion
ITA All-American (doubles)
Program all-time combined wins leader (140)
Program all-time singles wins leader (75)
No. 24 ranked singles player in the ITA Central Region
UAA All-Academic
Will Drougas
All-UAA Second Team (second singles)
No. 36 ranked singles player in the nation
No. 11 ranked singles player in the ITA Central Region
James Fojtasek
All-UAA Second Team (fifth singles and third doubles)
UAA Player of the Week (5/13)
Scored winning point in 5-4 NCAA Regional Championship victory at
CMU
Derek Reinbold
NCAA Elite 89 Award winner (first in school history)
UAA All-Academic
Scored winning point in ITA Indoor National Championship opening
round match
Louis Stuerke
All-UAA Second Team (third doubles)
John Healey
UAA Player of the Week (4/14)
UAA All-Academic
Program all-time doubles wins leader (81)
Third in program history in combined wins (136)