Hall of Fame
Maul, a native of Detroit and graduate of Grosse Pointe HS, was a four-year letterman in men's tennis for Wayne University in 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1940. He also received his freshman numeral in men's basketball after the 1938 season.
During his three-year varsity career with the Tartars (freshmen did not participate on varsity squads in those days), Maul compiled a 57-9 (.863) collegiate singles record at the number one, two, and three singles flights. During the 1939 season, Wayne's most successful men's tennis season ever, when the Tartars finished 24-0, defeating such teams as Alabama, South Carolina, Ohio State, Minnesota, Indiana, and Michigan State. Maul finished with a perfect 24-0 singles record, and teamed with Jack Schlesinger at the number one doubles flight for a 20-3 record.
Maul was captain of the 1940 Tartars who finished 9-6 overall, with several matches cancelled due to inclement weather, and he finished the season with a 12-3 singles record, 10-4 in doubles with partner Irv Blumenfeld. It was in the Tartars' 9-0 loss to Texas during their Texas trip that Maul's record of 48 consecutive singles victories was snapped.
Both Maul and Schlesinger, who was inducted into Wayne State's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981, attended the 1939 NCAA Men's Tennis Championships in Haverford, Penn., Maul was eliminated in the second round of singles and Schlesinger in the third round, and the Maul-Schlesinger doubles team was eliminated in the second round of doubles competition.
Maul was coached by Wayne's first tennis coach, Norman G. Wann, who was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986 after compiling a 191-96 (.666) record during his 20-season career at the University.
Before and during his University playing career, Maul was a force in Detroit, capturing the 1939 and 1940 Detroit Public Parks Championship, and the 1940 Detroit City Championship.
After graduating with a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts in 1941, Maul put down his tennis racquet for service in the U.S. Navy during World War II stationed at several Pacific bases during duration of the war. After his discharge Maul went into the manufacturing business for the next four decades, not to pick up a tennis racquet again until 1974, when he joined the Super Seniors Tour for his first competitive action in 33 years.
Maul picked up where he left off in college, quickly earning a Top 10 national ranking (highest was No. 6 in 1983), and capturing several National Seniors Tour championships. He still comes to Detroit often, and won the Detroit Public Parks Seniors Championship in 1976, 1979, and 1980.
