2008-09 Emory Men's Tennis Recap

The 2008-09 edition of the Emory men's tennis team enjoyed another standout season that saw the program advance to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Tournament for the eighth straight year. And while the Eagles saw their hopes for a national title fall short with a setback to UC-Santa Cruz in the semis, Emory bounced back to claim third place when it topped Washington University in the consolation match.

For the record, the squad finished the year with a 21-4 record and a No. 3 national ranking. As usual, Emory played an extremely competitve schedule and compiled a 11-2 dual record against D-III teams that were ranked in the Top 25.

On the national scene over the last eight years, Emory has brought home national championships in 2003 and 2006, been second in 2002, 2007 and 2008 and taken home third place in 2004, 2005 and 2009.

The Eagles had the honor of hosting the NCAA Regionals at the Woodruff PE Center and they made the most of that opportunity, topping Hampden-Sydney and No. 23-ranked North Carolina Wesleyan en route to earning the program's 18th consecutive appearance to the NCAA quarterfinals.

Emory caputred the ITA National Indoor Championships (Feb. 20-22, 2009), topping No. 10 Mary Washington (9-0), No. 3 Claremont-Mudd Scripps (6-3) and No. 1 Washington University (6-3). The Eagles did see their streak of consecutive UAA Championships end at 19 seasons when Washington University squeezed out an intense 5-4 verdict in the title match. Emory had three representatives garner All-UAA First Team honors in singles, freshman Chris Goodwin at No. 2, senior Mark Boren, No. 3 and junior Chris Redmond at No. 5. Chris Goodwin was also tabbed as the UAA Rookie of the Year.

Senior Michael Goodwin closed out an excellent career that culminated with him becoming the first men's player in school history to win the NCAA Division III Singles Championship. Goodwin battled the California heat (D-III Championships were hosted by Claremont-Mudd Scripps) and rattled off five wins en route to the crown. Goodwin's last three matches were three-set affairs including the 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 triumph over Ben Stein in the title match. Goodwin, the team's No. 1 singles player during his four-year career, closed out the 2008-09 campaign with an overall record of 18-11. For his efforts, Goodwin was chosen by the ITA as that organization's National Senior Player of the Year.

Mark Boren enjoyed a memorable final campaign, hammering out a singles record of 27-4, tying Chris Goodwin for most victories on the team. Boren, who held down the No. 3 singles post, chalked up an impressive dual slate of 22-2, 21-2 at the No. 3 spot. Boren captured All-America honors in singles after earning a win in an opening-round match at the NCAA Championships. Boren was ranked by the ITA as the No. 21-ranked singles player in D-III (No. 5 in the Atlantic South Region).

Chris Goodwin started off the year by garnering All-America honors following his championship performances in both singles and doubles at the ITA Regional Championships. Goodwin, advanced to the title match of D-III singles at the Small College Championships in Mobile, Ala., while teamming with his older brother, Michael, to capture the D-III crown in doubles at the event, the first Emory duo ever to accomplish that feat. The younger Goodwin racked up a singles mark of 27-6, including a 19-4 dual effort at No. 2 singles, while combining with Michael for a 23-7 slate in doubles, 19-6 at the No. 1 spot.
Goodwin ended the year ranked as the No. 12-ranked singles player in the Division III ranks (No. 2 in the Atlantic South Region) while the Goodwin duo was slotted as the No. 7-ranked doubles team (No. 1 Atlantic South Region). In addition, Chris was chosen by the ITA as the National Rookie of the Year.

Head Coach John Browning was recognized by the ITA as well, earning Atlantic South Region Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career.

Honors and Awards