GALLERY
March 30, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
The Illinois men's tennis team will celebrate 100 Years of Men's Tennis at the University of Illinois this Saturday, March 31, at the Northwestern match at 1 p.m. Against the Wildcats, the Illini will honor between doubles and singles a 16-member All-Century Team that represents players from almost every decade of the storied history of the Fighting Illini program.
Over the years, Illinois has been a dominant force in not only the Big Ten, but in the nation. Most recently, the Illini swept the national awards in 2003, garnering its first NCAA singles champion in Amer Delic, its second NCAA doubles champions in Brian Wilson and Rajeev Ram and its first NCAA team title behind a perfect 32-0 season.
Combined, the 16-member All-Century Team includes players who were some of the first Big Ten singles champions in the history of the conference, Academic All-Americans, All-Americans as players, All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten selections, national champions and Illinois record holders in singles and doubles.
Below is a closer look and salute to the All-Century team for all of their efforts and accomplishments that has made Illinois men's tennis one of the most prestigious programs in the country.
A LETTER FROM Craig Tiley
Thank you for the invitation to attend the celebration marking 100 years of Illinois Men's Tennis. Unfortunately, my current commitments in Australia make it impossible for me to attend.
I am deeply honored to be named Head Coach of the All-Century Team and to have been a part of Illinois Tennis during some of the team's most monumental and record-breaking seasons. Congratulations to the other members of the All-Century Team as well - many of whom I have had the good fortune of working with in the recent past. None of this would be possible without your ongoing personal and financial commitment to a world-class tennis facility and program, which enables Illinois to continue to recruit and foster the best tennis players. Congratulations and good luck as we transition into the next century of Illinois Men's Tennis, which will, no doubt, be filled with more records, awards and accolades.
My apologies again for being unable to attend the celebration, but I look forward to continuing to support Illinois Tennis and the University of Illinois in any way that I can.
Congratulations and all the best,
Craig Tiley
ALL-CENTURY TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Head Coach Craig Tiley (1993-2005)
While coach Tiley can be attributed with bringing the program to the top of the collegiate game, his accomplishments are numerous and could almost not all be named. Below are a few highlights:
•Led the Illini to the 2003 NCAA Championship title
•Left Illinois with every Illini coaching record in the books
•Two-time NCAA Coach of the Year (1999, 2003)
•Six-time ITA Region IV Coach of the Year (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003)
•Seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
•All-time winningest coach in 12 seasons with a career mark of 274-77 (.780)
•All-time winningest coach in 12 seasons with a career Big Ten mark of 133-22 (.858)
•Huge contributor to the starting and continual growth of the USTA Illinois Challenger, hosted by Illinois for the last 11 years
•Led Illinois to the top-five all-time winningest season marks
•Led the Illini to an NCAA-record 64 straight victories (Jan. 26, 2003-May 24, 2004)
•Led Illinois to a program-best 57 conference-match winning streak (April 16, 1997-April, 29, 2001)
•Coached a total of seven Illini who have gone on to compete in the professional tour after their collegiate careers (Graydon Oliver, Amer Delic, Rajeev Ram, Brian Wilson, Phil Stolt, Michael Calkins, Ryler DeHeart)
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Walter Becker (1916-17)
Became Illinois' first Big Ten singles champion in 1917 ... Teamed with Ernest McKay to become Illinois' first Big Ten doubles champion in 1917.
Michael Calkins (2001-04)
One of the most heralded collegiate tennis players in Illinois history, Calkins ended his career as the all-time winningest player with a combined 246 victories.
•Part of the 2003 NCAA Championship team
•ITA Regional Champion in 20004 with doubles partner Chris Martin
•2002 All-American
•2004 ITA Regional John Van Nostrand Memorial Award honoree
•2002 Big Ten Singles Champion
•2003 & 2004 All-Big Ten selection
•Ranks No. 2 in the record book in singles (123-33)
•Ranks No. 1 in the record book in doubles (123-47)
•Ranks No. 10 (32-9) and tied for No. 17 (30-6, 30-11) in all-time single-season singles victories
•Ranks tied for No. 6 (33-9), tied for No. 11 (31-12) and tied for No. 15 (30-11) in all-time single-season doubles victories
•Ranks tied for No. 8 on the longest singles winning streaks list, twice registering 14 straight (2002, 2003)
•With Partner Amer Delic, Ranks No. 3 & 4 and with Chris Martin ranks tied for No. 11 in all-time team doubles wins for a season with 31 (2002) and 29 (2003) with Delic and 24 (2004) with Martin.
•ITA Regional Champion in 2000-01 with doubles partner Michael Calkins
Ryler DeHeart (2002-06)
Illinois most recent graduate, DeHeart became the final pupil under the legendary Tiley to earn All-America honors.
•Part of the 2003 NCAA Championship team
•2005 & 2006 All-American
•Began the 2005 season Ranked No. 1 in singles, the first Illini to accomplish the feat
•ITA Regional Champion in singles in 2005
•2004-06 All-Big Ten Selection
•Two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year (2005-06)
•Three-time Academic All-Big Ten
•Ranked No. 1 all-time in career singles victories with his overall mark of 138-36
•Ranks No. 1 (42-10) and No. 3 (39-8) in all-time single-season victories
•Ranks No. 5 all-time in career doubles wins with a record of 104-38
•Ranks tied for No. 11 all-time in single-season doubles wins with 31 (2003)
•Ranks No. 2 all-time in combined wins for a career with 241
Amer Delic (2000-03)
Delic helped Illinois break through the collegiate ranks to win the team national title, while also becoming the Orange and Blue's first NCAA singles champion.
•Part of the 2003 NCAA Championship team
•Three-time All-American (2001, 2002, 2003)
•2003 Academic All-Big Ten
•2001 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
•Two-time All-Big Ten Selection (2002-03)
•2003 George Huff Academic Award winner
•Jesse Owens Big Ten Athlete of the Year (2003)
•Ranked No. 13 all-time in career singles victories with a record of 92-33
•Ranks tied for No. 10 all-time in career doubles wins with a record of 89-31
•Ranks No. 6 (36-5) and tied for No. 17 (30-13) in all-time single-season victories
•Ranks tied for No. 4 all-time in longest singles winning streak with 15 (2003)
•Ranks tied for No. 11 and 15 all-time in single-season doubles wins with 31 (2002) and 30 (2003), respectively.
•With partner Michael Calkins, Ranks No. 3 & 4 and with Graydon Oliver ranks No. 8 in all-time team doubles wins for a season with 31 (2002) and 29 (2003), respectively, with Calkins and 26 (2000-01) with Oliver.
•ITA Regional Champion in 2000 with doubles partner Graydon Oliver
•ITA Regional Champion in 2001 with doubles partner Michael Calkins
Cary Franklin (1996-2000)
One Franklin's top accomplishments included earning Illinois its first NCAA doubles title with partner Graydon Oliver in 2000.
•Two-time All-American (1999, 2000)
•1997 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
•Four-time All-Big Ten Selection (1997-2000)
•Two-time Academic All-Big Ten
•Two-time George Huff Academic Award winner
•Ranks No. 7 (35-10) in all-time single-season victories
•Ranks No. 6 all-time in career singles victories with a record of 116-48
•Ranks No. 4 all-time in career doubles wins with a record of 108-38
•Ranked No. 5 all-time in combined wins in a career with 224
•With Partner Oliver Freelove Ranks No. 1 and with Graydon Oliver ranks No. 2 in all-time team doubles wins for a season with 34 (1999) and 33 (2000), respectively.
•Ranks tied for No. 3 all-time in single-season doubles wins with 35 (2000, 1999)
Oliver Freelove (1995-99)
One of Illinois most decorated doubles players, he finished his career ranked No.1 all-time in single season team doubles wins (34) with partner Cary Franklin.
•1999 All-American
•1999 Big Ten Player of the Year
•Two-time All-Big Ten Selection (1998-99)
•Second Team Academic All-American in 1999
•Three-time Academic All-Big Ten
•Three-time George Huff Academic Award winner
•No. 3 all-time in career victories with a 234-99 combined singles and doubles record
•Ranks tied for No. 4 in the record book with his 119-62 career singles record
•Ranks No. 3 in the record book with his 115-37 career doubles record
•Ranks No. 2 (38-9) and No. 13 (30-11) in all-time single-season doubles victories
•Ranks tied for No. 4 (37-16) in all-time single-season singles victories
Jeff Laski (1996-2000)
Laski finished his career ranked No. 2 all-time in career doubles victories with a record of 118-43.
•ITA Regional Champion in 1999 with doubles partner Jamal Parker
•2000 All-American
•2000 All-Big Ten Selection
•1999 George Huff Academic Award winner
•Ranks No. 7 all-time in career singles victories with a record of 108-52
•Ranks No. 2 all-time in career doubles wins with a record of 118-43
•Ranks No. 1 & tied for 15 all-time in single-season doubles wins with 39 (1999), 30 (2000), respectively
•Ranked No. 4 all-time in combined wins in a career with 226
•With Partner Jamal Parker, ranks tied for No. 5 in all-time team doubles wins for a season with 28 (2000)
Edward Lejeck (1931-32)
Illinois' only Big Ten singles champion during the 1930s, capturing the title in 1932.
Frank Meyers (1921-22)
Broke a five-year drought for the Illini when he captured the 1922 Big Ten singles championship.
Tim O'Connell (1925-28)
The only Illinois netter to capture multiple Big Ten singles titles, winning three-straight from 1926-28 ... A two-time Big Ten doubles champion with partners Ed Schoaff (1926) and Gordon Brandy (1928).
Graydon Oliver (1999-2000)
Oliver accomplished one of the program's firsts in doubles, as he teamed with Cary Franklin to win the NCAA doubles championship in 2000.
•Two-time All-American (2000, 2001)
•2001 ITA Scholar-Athlete
•Two-time All-Big Ten Selection (2000-01)
•2001 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner
•Two-time Academic All-Big Ten
•Two-time George Huff Academic Award winner
•Ranks tied for No. 18 (30-9) in all-time single-season victories
•Ranks No. 3 all-time in longest singles winning streak with 18 (2000)
•Ranks No. 5 all-time in single-season doubles wins with 34 (2000)
•With Partner Cary Franklin ranks No. 2 and with Amer Delic he ranks No. 8 in all-time team doubles wins in a season with 33 (2000) and 26 (2001), respectively
Rajeev Ram (2003)
Part of only the second doubles tandem to win an NCAA doubles title, teaming with Brian Wilson (2003) to achieve the feat.
•Part of the 2003 NCAA Championship team
•2003 All-American
•2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
•2003 All-Big Ten Selection
•Ranks tied for No. 4 all-time in longest singles winning streak with 15 (2003)
•With Partner Brian Wilson, ranks tied for No. 11 in all-time in team doubles wins for a season with 24 (2002-03)
Gavin Sontag (1995-99)
Sontag helped pave the way for the Illini greats to follow, as he become Illinois' first All-American in 1998.
•1997 Big Ten Singles Champion
•Two-time All-Big Ten Selection (1997-98)
•Three-time Academic All-Big Ten
•Two-time George Huff Academic Award winner
•Ranked No. 3 all-time in career singles victories with a 120-52 record
•Ranked No. 8 all-time in career doubles victories with a 91-46 record
•Ranked No. 6 all-time in combined wins in a career with a record of 211-98
•Ranks No. 2 (40-11) and No. 13 (31-18) in all-time single-season singles victories
•Ranks tied for No. 4 in the longest singles winning streak in program history with 15 in 1998
•With Partner Chris DeVore, ranks tied for No. 11 in all-time team doubles wins for a season with 24 (1996)
Phil Stolt (2000-04)
Stolt ended his career at Illinois a four-time All-Big Ten selection and was the 2004 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner.
•Part of the 2003 NCAA Championship team
•2004 All-American
•ITA Regional Champion in singles in 2003
•2004 ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Award
•2004 ITA Scholar-Athlete
•Three-time Academic All-Big Ten
•Two-time George Huff Academic Award winner
•Ranks No. 6 all-time in career doubles wins with a record of 100-28
•Ranks No. 7 all-time in combined wins for a career with 201
•Ranks No. 11 all-time in career singles victories with a record of 101-42
•Ranks tied for No. 11 (32-17) in all-time single-season victories
•With Partner Brian Wilson, ranks tied for No. 14 in all-time team doubles wins for a season with 23 (2004)
Brian Wilson (2000-04)
Wilson helped continue Illinois' presence in the doubles arena, pairing with Rajeev Ram (2003) to become only the second doubles tandem to win the NCAA title in school history.
•Part of the 2003 NCAA Championship team
•2004 Big Ten Player of the Year
•Two-time All-American (2003, 2004)
•Three-time All-Big Ten Selection (2002-04)
•Ranked No. 14 all-time in career singles victories, 95-28
•Ranks No. 9 (34-7) and tied for No .14 (31-9) in all-time single-season singles victories
•Owns second-longest win streak in Illinois history of 19 (2003)
•Ranked tied for No. 11 all-time in combined wins for a career with 184
•Ranks tied for No. 10 all-time in career doubles wins with a record of 89-25
•Ranks tied for No. 6 all-time in single-season doubles wins with 33 (2003)
•With Partner Rajeev Ram, ranks tied for No. 11 and with Phil Stolt ranks tied for No. 14 in all-time team doubles wins in a season with 24 (2003) and 23 (2004), respectively
Honorary Team Captain Chris Martin (2002-05)
Selected as the Honorary All-Century team captain, Martin is most remembered for clinching the winning singles point in the 2003 NCAA Championship finals, leading the Illini to their first national title.
•Part of the 2003 NCAA Championship team
•Three-time Second Team Academic All-American selection
•Three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete (2005)
•ITA Regional Champion in 2004 with doubles partner Michael Calkins
•Three-time Academic All-Big Ten
•Three-time George Huff Academic Award winner
•Ranks tied for No. 15 all-time in career singles victories with a record of 74-23
•Ranks tied for No. 8 all-time in longest singles winning streak with 14 (2003)
•With partner Michael Calkins, ranks tied for No. 11 in all-time team doubles wins for a season with 24 (2004)
•Ranks tied for No. 10 (32-10) in all-time single-season singles victories
