FERRIS ANNOUNCES 2005-06 MEN'S TENNIS AWARD WINNERS

Freshman Brenton Bacon Picks Up Team Most Valuable Player Accolades

Bacon, who was recently honored as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) National Rookie Player of the Year, earned 2006 All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First Team honors this campaign. He also received the ITA’s 2006 Great Lakes Region Rookie Player of the Year Award honor along with being recognized as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

Junior Kevin Brundle was honored as FSU's Most Improved Player Award winner for the 2005-06 campaign

The 6-0 Bacon posted a team-best 18-5 overall singles mark this campaign, including a 9-4 mark at the number one flight in dual match competition during his initial Bulldog campaign. Bacon also tallied a 30-3 overall doubles record and was ranked 14th in the latest (April 10) Fila Division II National Singles Rankings along with third in the Great Lakes Regional listing.

Bacon and senior Mark Hammelman (Brookfield, Wis.) compiled a 22-2 dual record at the top doubles spot this year and were a perfect 7-0 in GLIAC regular-season action. The duo was the region's top-ranked tandem and listed seventh in the nation according to the latest rankings. Bacon also reached the singles quarterfinal round and advanced to the doubles semifinals at the ITA Great Lakes Region Championships held last fall (Sept. 23-25) in Midland, Mich. He claimed top individual flight championships in both the Bulldog Team Invitational (Sept. 17-18) and the Chicago State "Windy City" Fall Invitational (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) held earlier this year.

This spring, Bacon recorded a 4-3 overall record against individuals ranked regionally while posting a 2-3 mark against individuals featured in the national singles rankings. Among his biggest triumphs this campaign was a 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 victory over then sixth-ranked Niedermayer on March 9 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Bacon and Hammelman's 30 doubles wins this year tied for the third-most single-season doubles victories in school history.

The Most Improved Player Award for the men's squad was presented to junior Kevin Brundle (Grand Blanc). The 6-0 Brundle notched a 7-7 overall singles record during his initial Bulldog season. He was 4-2 overall in conference singles action this campaign. Brundle, who posted a 13-10 overall mark in doubles matches this year, emerged victorious in four of his last five singles outings. He and senior Kyle Halberg (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon) recorded a 10-4 mark in number two doubles play this spring and won five of seven league encounters. Senior Eric Kent (Cadillac) claimed the squad's President's Academic Award for his success in the classroom. Kent posted a 6-3 singles record for FSU this season.

Ramos, who completed his first official year as the school's head men's tennis coach this season following five years guiding Ferris' women's tennis program, announced his resignation Thursday (May 11). He plans to move closer to his family in New York and continue his education by pursuing a Master's Degree. A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.

Ramos led the Bulldog men's tennis team to its ninth-straight and 12th overall NCAA-II National Tournament appearance during the 2005-06 campaign. Ferris State, which was ranked 33rd in the latest (April 28) Fila Division II Collegiate National Rankings, placed second overall at the GLIAC Tournament this season. The Bulldogs recorded a 16-8 overall record, including a second-place 6-1 mark in league action.