'M' tennis gets an infusion of youth to replace experience

As every college season comes to an end, a coach and a team must say good-bye to another kindred.

The Michigan men's tennis team was almost was cut in half when it lost seniors Brook Blain, Arvid Swan, Dave Paradzik and Miki Pusztai.

But the Wolverines can now say a bunch of hellos.

Five new freshman - Henry Beam, Jeronie Barnes, Ben Cox, Danny McCain and Chris Schultz - along with sophomore Ron Nano, join the Michigan squad that will begin competition at the end of this month.

The Wolverines begin their latest campaign with three months of individual-based tournaments, lasting from late September through January, with a month-long break in December. Assistant coach Dan Goldberg said that these tournaments are vital to "gi

DANA LINNANE/Daily With senior David Paradzik - as well as three others - lost to graduation, Michigan coach Brian Eisner has the daunting task of rebuilding his team with mostly freshmen. Hoping to lead the new Wolverines this year will be seniors Will Farah and Jake Raiton.

ve the players a chance to play a lot of matches."

The Wolverines hope to repeat last season's dominance of the fall tournaments, which helps the team prepare for the vigorous season that begins in February.

"Every competition we had, our performance was the best of probably any team in the tournaments," Eisner said. "This fall will be very critical because there are very easily five Big Ten teams in the Top 25."

Seniors Will Farah and Jake Raiton will lead the bunch, along with juniors John Long, Matt Wright and Brad McFarlane.

But five players can't make up a team, and coach Brian Eisner responded by bringing in six players - the biggest incoming class of the decade.

n Danny McCain, who hails from Largo, Fla., blasted through the summer tournaments.

McCain won the doubles bracket of the National Indoors and was ranked No. 20 in the country as a junior. He won back-to-back Florida state high school titles the past two years.

"He comes in with incredible credentials," Eisner said.

n Ben Cox had what Eisner calls "a tremendous tournament" this summer. At the Western Closed Championships in Kalamazoo, Cox won the singles bracket without the loss of a set.

Eisner found out that once Cox gets into a rhythm, he's hard to break.

"The explosive ability of Ben's game is incredible," Eisner said. "Once he's got his game going, he's hard to beat."

n Henry Beam Jr. also had an admirable summer. He took fourth in the singles bracket of the Western Closed Championships, and won four singles matches at the National Hardcourt Championships.

"There have been many good players from Kalamazoo," Eisner said. "He won four matches, which is the most matches won from any player out of Kalamazoo.

Beam can also be called the 'giant' of the squad at 6-foot-6, the tallest player on the team by far.

n Chris Schultz has a little tougher road ahead of him. Unlike past years, only three out of the five freshman are on scholarship.

Schultz hails from East Lansing and was the Division II state champion as a senior. Still, he is keeping his goals simple.

"My goal is to play tennis and get good grades," Schultz said.

n Jeronie Barnes, like Schultz, also has the tougher road as a non-scholarship player.

But Eisner likes the fact that he has greater options with five new freshmen.

"They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team," he said. "We will have a nice blend of players to work with."

Michigan's fall season begins in late September when Eisner will send a few of the freshman to the Western Michigan Invitational.

09-09-98