May 1, 2007
EASTON, Pa. - In just one year at the collegiate level, freshman Eric Wiley (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briar Cliff Manor) established himself as the regular second singles starter for the Lafayette men's tennis team. For his efforts, Wiley grabbed Second Team All-Patriot League honors and was the only freshman to do so.
"Eric had a great year for us. As a freshman he was able to come in and play with the poise of an upperclassman," said head coach Eric Ratchford. "He has a bright future ahead of him, and I look forward to seeing his game progress even more in the years to come."
Wiley registered a team-best 9-6 overall record in singles matches and was 7-4 at the No. 2 spot during the spring championship season. He punched victories over UMES, Bethune-Cookman, and St. Andrew's Presbyterian during the Leopards' Spring Break trip through Maryland, Florida and the Carolinas.
The Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. native was equally impressive throughout the Patriot League slate, notching singles wins over Holy Cross, Lehigh and Colgate. Wiley was down 7-5, 2-2 in the quarterfinals of the men's Patriot League Tournament against Colgate's Martin MacIntyre for the second time of the season. Colgate clinched a 4-0 win over Lafayette before Wiley and MacIntyre could finish.
Wiley played primarily with classmate Steven Benezra in the second and third doubles flights all year, while also spending time opposite sophomore Lee Kojanis and junior Paul Guarino. Wiley registered a combined 6-7 record in doubles action.
A strong contender for Rookie of the Year laurels, the league's coaches selected Navy's No. 6 Ramsey Lemaich for the honor. The pair represented the only two freshmen to be mentioned. Wiley, an Economics and Business major, is one of four Lafayette players in Patriot League history to be granted all-league status and is the first Leopard to be named since Andrew Mott in 2005.
Navy collected the 2007 Patriot League Championship, while the Mids' Nate Nelms was named Player of the Year and head coach John Officer was voted Coach of the Year.
