The 2004 Gustavus Adolphus men’s tennis season is one filled with high expectations. Though the Gusties lost two national champions, Eric Butorac and Kevin Whipple, the team returns a very young, talented roster that includes only two seniors. Among the top returners are seniors Ben Lundell and Kyle Anderson and sophomores Adam Morgan, and Brett Morse-Karzen. Junior transfer Loren Collins should also step in and play a key role in the team’s success.
Gustavus is looking to extend its streak of 15 straight conference titles and looks to have the depth and talent to do so. The Gusties enter the season ranked third in the nation. The strength of Coach Wilkinson’s teams in recent history has been doubles play. This group will be more inexperienced than usual, as Morgan and Morse-Karzen are the lone returning doubles team. Wilkinson’s early line-up has Collins teaming with Ben Lundell at second doubles and Kyle Anderson playing with Roy Bryan at third doubles. Adam Morgan and Brett Morse-Karzen recently placed fourth at the ITA Championships.
In singles play, Collins will move into the top spot after posting an 8-1 mark in the fall. Collins, a transfer from Texas Corpus-Christi, won the ITA Midwest Regional and finished third at the ITA Small College Championships. Seniors Ben Lundell and Kyle Anderson and sophomores Morgan and Morse-Karzen will battle for the 2-5 spots. Freshman Claudio Bravo and junior Pete Schwingler will likely compete for the sixth position.
Gustavus will play its usual difficult schedule, beginning the season against Division II power Brigham Young-Hawaii and Division I University of Hawaii. The Gusties will also host the ITA Divison III Indoor Team Championship, February 27-29.