DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's tennis squad will host its Third Annual Mike Kneale Doubles Tournament on Friday, October 31, in the Doris J. and Donald L. Duchene, Sr. Athletic Facility.
LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors impressed in last week's Viking Invitational hosted by Cleveland State University. As a squad, the Green and Gold notched a 25-16 record in singles competition, while going 12-6 in doubles. The pairing of
Tom Wasner (Altenholz, Germany) and
Sam Knowles (North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England) earned a 4-0 mark on the weekend and won the doubles main draw. Three WSU student-athletes advanced to the semifinals of the singles main draw, as Wasner,
George Day (Southampton, United Kingdom), and
Benjamin Hill (Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) were three of the final four remaining. Wasner appeared in the championship match but fell 6-3, 6-2.
TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK
Wayne State will welcome Tiffin University and the University of Findlay on Friday, with the first match slotted to begin at 10:00 AM. A WSU pairing has won both of the tournament's installments, as
Cedric Drenth (Sulzbach, Germany) and current graduate assistant coach
Daniel Grey (Wiesbaden, German) won the inaugural tournament, while Drenth and Day prevailed last season.
The tournament is played in memory of former Wayne State student-athlete and Detroit native Michael (Mike) Kneale. Kneale was a member of the WSU tennis squad from 1979 to 1982, earning team MVP honors after the 1979 and 1980 seasons.Â
The Tartar was successful in both singles and doubles competitions, assisting Wayne State to GLIAC titles in both 1980 and 1981 with his partner and WSU Hall of Fame member, Bob Jackson.
1980-81 Team
Pictured (Left to Right):Â Oscar Gamarra, Sr., Jamie Mason, Mike Kneale, Dennis Royal, Bob Jackson, head coach Allison Tookes.
Not Pictured: Kelvin Wise.
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