Two Long Islanders Lead Vassar to First Ever National Ranking
Island natives Mike Mattelson and Greg Katz playing pivotal role
For the first time in school history, the Vassar College men’s tennis team has earned a national ranking. In the most recent Men’s National Team Rankings, which is administered by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the Brewers secured a number 22 national ranking.
“To be ranked nationally for the first time in program history is very exciting and indicative of where our team is headed,” said head coach Ki Kroll. “The important thing right now is not to get caught up in the ranking, but to build on what we have earned this year. We have some very tough opponents on our schedule ahead.”
The Brewers, 5-0 this year, are currently ranked No. 11 in the Northeast, according to the most recent ITA Rankings.
Two Long Islanders who have helped lead Vassar to this ranking:
Mike Mattelson
Class: Senior
Hometown: Great Neck, N.Y.
High School: Great Neck North
2009-10: Ranked No. 4 in the ITA NE (Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast) region and No. 16 nationally in the ITA preseason singles rankings… ranked No. 7 in the ITA NE preseason doubles rankings with Greg Katz… defeated Skidmore No. 1 Carl-Eric Girardin in the semi-finals and NYU No. 1 Patrick Whitner in the finals to capture the ITA NE Regional Championship (10/4), becoming the program’s first singles player to advance to the ITA National Small College Championships in Mobile, Alabama… in Fall tournament play, went 12-4 in singles and 10-2 in doubles… won the Wallach Invitational A Flight singles tournament (10/11) … teamed with Greg Katz to win the Wallach Invitational A Flight doubles tournament (10/11)… teamed with Andrew Guzick to reach the semi-finals of the ITA NE Regional Championships (10/4)… earned Liberty League Performer of the Week honors four straight weeks from Sept. 21 to Oct. 12… completed his career’s longest singles win streak of 11 matches from Sept. 19 to Oct. 11… selected to the Liberty League All-Academic team.
2008-09: Ranked as high as No. 16 in the ITA Northeast rankings (4/14)… named Liberty League All-Conference singles and doubles with Jeremy Rosen… went 18-11 at No.1 singles and 13-10 in doubles… reached the singles final of the ITA NE Regional Championships (10/5)… started the Spring dual match season with a 10-3 record from Feb. 7 to Apr. 8… earned Liberty League Performer of the Week honors five times… selected to the Liberty League All-Academic team.
2007-08: Went 13-11 at No. 1 singles and 18-9 at doubles… partnered with Ashish Patil to compile a 12-3 Spring dual match record at No. 2 doubles including a win over Trinity’s Tom Dolan and Brett Ramsey, earning the program’s first point in its first ever NCAA Division III Tennis Championship appearance… earned Liberty League Performer of the Week honors three times… opened the Spring with his season’s longest singles match win streak of five matches from Feb. 16 to Mar. 1… selected to the Liberty League All-Academic team.
2006-07: Named the 2007 Liberty League Rookie of the Year… named Liberty-League All-Conference doubles with partner Ashish Patil and Honorable Mention singles… went 16-7 at No. 2 singles and 16-7 in doubles… earned Liberty League Rookie of the Week honors five times… went 11-1 from Mar. 9 through the Liberty League Finals vs. Skidmore on Apr. 21… went 2-0 against rival Skidmore defeating Tyson McKechnie twice.
Prior to Vassar: named All-Conference and All-County in Nassau County Division I as a junior and senior… named All-Division his sophomore through senior years… finished 4th place in County singles tournament as a junior and senior… played No. 1 singles his sophomore through senior years… lettered all four years at John L. Miller Great Neck North High School… ranked in the USTA B18s top 350 nationally and top 50 in the Eastern Section.
Greg Katz
Class: Junior
Hometown: Baldwin, N.Y.
High School: Baldwin Senior
2009-10: Ranked No. 7 in the ITA NE preseason doubles rankings with Mike Mattelson… teamed with Mike Mattelson to win the Wallach Invitational A Flight doubles tournament (10/11)… in Fall tournament play, went 2-4 in singles and 10-2 in doubles… teamed with Josh Jasso to reach the finals of the Middlebury Invitational.
2008-09: Named Liberty League All-Conference singles… went 15-10 at No. 3 singles and 14-11 in doubles.
2007-08: As a true freshman, named a program-first ITA All-American in doubles with partner Max Willner… teamed with Max Willner to win the ITA NE Regional Championships in doubles becoming the program’s doubles team to advance to the ITA National Small College Championships in Mobile, Alabama … named Liberty League All-Conference singles and doubles with partner Max Willner… went 18-8 at No. 3 singles and 18-12 in doubles… earned Liberty League Performer of the Week (10/1) and Liberty League Rookie of the Week (9/24)… opened the Spring with his season’s longest singles match win streak of five matches from Feb. 16 to Mar. 1… went 2-0 versus rival Skidmore in dual match play defeating Yahia Imam twice (3/1 and 4/20).
Prior to Vassar: Named All-Division all four years… named All-County as a freshman and a senior… team won bronze at the Empire State Games… won singles gold at Empire State Games… undefeated his freshman, sophomore, and senior years… ranked in the top 5 of the Eastern section and top 100 nationally in the USTA B14s… lettered all four years at Baldwin Senior… ranked in the USTA B18s top 350 nationally and top 50 in the Eastern Section.
