Men's Tennis Has Three Players Sign for Spring 2010, Six Total for Next Season
April 29, 2009 | Men's Tennis
The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team added to its already stellar
recruiting class with three more signees for Spring 2010, totaling
six new players for next year's Runnin' Bulldog team. Signing to
come play for the Bulldogs next season were Roman Piftor, Matthew
Herrock, and Andrew Carter.
Piftor, a Uzbekistan native, will enter as the highest ranked
junior in Gardner-Webb history as he is currently ranked 175th in
the world amongst ITF 18's. Throughout his junior and high school
experience, he has gained tons of international experience, which
he can bring to the table for the Bulldogs in 2010.
Herrock will also be competitive for the ‘Dogs in his first
year at GWU. The Tarpon Springs, FL native is a 2 star player in
Florida, currently ranked 59th amongst Florida 18's. Herrock also
holds a 3.0 GPA entering his final semester in high school.
Carter is a Melbourne, Australia, native who is currently in his
second year at Seminole Community College in Oklahoma where he
captains the men's tennis team. In the fall of 2009, Carter was
ranked 29th in singles and 22nd in doubles by the NJCAA. His team
is ranked 4th in the nation this spring by the NJCAA.
Accompanying these three players are Jeremie Tardif, William Kenny,
and Matthew Parker who have already signed to play for head coach
Mike Griffith this fall.
Tardif, a Montreal, Quebec native, was spotted by Griffith at the
College Tennis Exposure Camp hosted by LeHigh University this past
summer. Tardif, who ranks in the top 15 of the U-18 class in
Quebec, won the Warrior of the Week honor at the CTE Camp out of
90+ prospects.
Kenny, a native of Buck Hill Falls, PA, also caught the eye of
Griffith at the very same camp. Kenny had attended the camp
previously but entered this year's camp with a more impressive
skill level.
Parker, who hails from Marietta, Ga., attends the Universal Tennis
Academy in Marietta. UTA is noted as one of the most prestigious
tennis academies in the nation; housing some of the finest coaches
of the game.
Griffith is excited about the talent pool coming to play at
Gardner-Webb next season.
"These guys have the talent level to make every position a
competitive one next season."
"With this group of new guys, along with the returnees, everyone
will be challenged in practice which will only bring out the best
in these athletes."
"If we can get these guys in and quickly acclimated to the
collegiate style of play, I feel we have an great opportunity of
reaching our goal of conference champions."
