Three Spartans Recognized at Big Ten Banquet
4/25/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 25, 2013
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's tennis team had three individuals recognized by the Big Ten on Thursday, April 25, as the conference announced its postseason honors for the 2013 season. Junior Aaron Pfister, a native of Grand Blanc, Mich., earned his second First-Team All-Big Ten nomination, while junior Drew Lied from Brookfield, Wis., took home a second-team honors. Senior Denis Bogatov, a Gurnee, Ill., native, represented the Spartans as a Sportsmanship Honoree.
Pfister was one of 13 athletes nominated to the first-team, marking the second consecutive year he has been selected. Pfister is the first Spartan to earn back-to-back nominations since Nick Rinks did in 2006 and 2007.
Pfister has led the Spartans in the No. 1 position all season, posting 13 singles victories throughout the dual season and 17 overall. The junior compiled a 6-5 record in conference play. He had added an additional nine victories in doubles play throughout the lineup.
The 2011 Big Ten Indoor Champion has now won 75 career singles matches and earned 28 victories in doubles play.
Drew Lied earns his first postseason award after finishing the season with 15 singles victories and a 7-4 mark in conference play. He is one of five athletes to be named to the second-team. His 11 victories on court two are the third most on the team at any position. He has partnered with freshman JP Mullane to form the most successful Spartan duo, posting 10 wins together and a 7-2 Big Ten record.
Denis Boagtov will take home his second consecutive Sportsmanship Honoree award after receiving the same nomination last season. The Big Ten chooses one player from each of the 12 Big Ten teams who has exemplified good sportsmanship throughout the season.
Playing throughout the lineup, Bogatov has earned 13 victories in singles play and eight in doubles action. The senior has amassed 75 career singles wins and 62 in doubles competition.
2013 MEN'S TENNIS ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS
First-Team All-Big Ten*
JARED HILTZIK, Illinois
Josh MacTaggart, Indiana
Sam Monette, Indiana
EVAN KING, Michigan
Aaron Pfister, Michigan State
ROK BONIN, Minnesota
Leandro Toledo, Minnesota
Raleigh Smith, Northwestern
Spencer Wolf, Northwestern
PETER KOBELT, Ohio State
Devin McCarthy, Ohio State
BLAZ ROLA, Ohio State
Connor Smith, Ohio State
Second-Team All-Big Ten
Tim Kopinski, Illinois
Barrett Franks, Michigan
Drew Lied, Michigan State
Chris Diaz, Ohio State
Szymon Tatarczyk, Purdue
Unanimous selections in CAPS * Additional honorees due to a tie INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Athlete of the Year: Evan King, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Jared Hiltzik, Illinois
Coach of the Year: Ty Tucker, Ohio State
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Bruno Abdelnoor, Illinois
Chris Essick, Indiana
Jonas Dierckx, Iowa
Alex Petrone, Michigan
Denis Bogatov, Michigan State
Jack Hamburg, Minnesota
Marc Herrmann, Nebraska
Chris Jackman, Northwestern
Blaz Rola, Ohio State
CJ Griffin, Penn State
Krisztian Krocsko, Purdue
Petr Satral, Wisconsin
