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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1982)
April 15,1| Texas A&M Battalion Sports April 15, 1982 Page 17 Hard work pays off Joelson’s persistence, determination key to tennis success staff photo by John Ryan virian Joelson readies himself for a return against 1 Livshitz of the University of Houston. Joelson, * 48 ^ as * n most °f his matches this season, beat • jLivshitz 7-6, 7-6 in the Aggies’ team 8-1 victory over , i v :' f9, i!f eCougars * staff photo by JoW ays G. his guitt Roliie 1 tubs e skiijtO ations by Denise S. Sechelski Battalion Staff Perspiration, not inspriration. That’s Coach David Kent’s key to success in tennis and he says Brian Joelson, the Aggies’ No. 1 tennis player, has proven that the formula works wonders. “The reason Brian’s such a great athlete is because he works extra hard,” Kent said. “He’s really our best player day in and day out. He had a slow start this year, but right now he can play and beat the best players in the country.” And Joelson has been doing just that. The 2()-year-old junior has won eight of his last 12 matches and has a season record of 16-10. Joelson said a couple of matches stand out as personal high points, but his recent vic tory against Arkansas is one of the best memories of the season. “I’ve had a some good match es,” he said, “but beating (Pat Serret) from Arkansas was a good win. He’d just beaten David Pate who is the No. 2 col lege singles player in the country.” However, Joelson’s success in the latter part of the season doesn’t reflect his record in the early matches. He lost four of his first eight matches and says the school recruits Clifford sign with Aggies The Texas A&M basketball ■aching staff signed two play- Press IntenuuW ers to national letters of intent RK — Thepi |,j Wednesday. Head Coach Shelby tubs and Metcalf was in Calif ornia to col- msed a waveollect the signature of Roger Bock, m problems,2«Ja 6-10 center from Oxnard, irticle in AmffCalif. azine. I Bock, a senior at Santa Clara High School, averaged 17 points and 10.4 rebounds a game this season. He had five blocked shots a game and shot 61 per cent from the field. The 232-pounder was All- Calfifornia Interscholastic Federation, MVP of the Fron tier League, and All-Ventura rle quotes Dr of Pittsburg! roblem has ^ widespread' . out with an the neck the bac! (i s, a co® hich needs prow. explained tl® 1 te skin to ed and def ( ‘ gh no treatin' 1 ess the rask it’s importa* mrce of the f reinfection ib. loes not because e 100 degree" it tubs. KM**' Guitar Sale All Models Sale Priced I! 0-6 ER Alvarez Yamaha Yairi & More ac ‘'E * F j Marked Down For Stock Reduction! All Guitars included for this Sale! KEyboAnd Center Inc. POST OAK MALL College Station, TX 77840 Sale Ends Saturday Store hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Layaway Guitar Lessons Piano Tuning Piano Rental poor start was not what he ex pected. “I have problems in the cold weather,” Joelson said, “and for a while at the beginning, the weather was really cold. I couldn’t get a good match in or even a good practice in. That really bothered me. “But then the weather got warmer, and I was able to start playing a little better. I also changed from a wood to a graphite racket, and that may have helped some, too.” Kent says Joelson puts in ex tra time on the court, and the dedication pays off when he wins. “He’s been working really hard,” Kent said. “It says a lot that he didn’t get discouraged at the beginning of the year. He just came out and worked harder. “In years past, he didn’t do that extra work and he didn’t do that well in his matches. But now he’s one of the best I’ve seen and he’s winning the matches he plays.” Joelson, a native of Portland, Ore., began playing tennis when he was nine years old, but said he didn’t dream of being a success ful tennis player. “I was always interested in other sports,” he said. “When I got into the 16-year-old age bracket I started to play serious ly. Before then I’d rather have been playing basketball or base ball.” But Joelson chose tennis. His mother acted as manager and got him to play tournaments for the experience he needed. It was a tournament in Dallas that put Joelson in the sight of Kent and Texas A&M. He was recruited and began playing for the Aggies as a fresh man three years ago. Joelson used to be a baseline player, staying back in the court and hitting long rallies. But col lege changed that. “I’m a little more aggressive now,” he said. “When I first started playing for A&M, I was in about the No. 5 position and could win from the baseline. But then I started getting beat all the time, so I started coming to the net a little more. I had to do something.” And he’s done something, off the tennis courts as well as on. Joelson, a parks and recreation major, received recognition last semester for having the best grades among members of the tennis team. “He’s done well in his stu dies,” Kent said. “We play a lot of matches, but we’re not run ning a tennis factory here. We want our athletes to do well in the classroom.” The Aggies have not had a break in play since the spring season started, playing an aver age of two schools a week since Jan. 30. However, Joelson said the full schedule of matches and practice every day doesn’t curb his desire to play. “The motivation is definitely there,” he said. “The NCAA tournament is at the end of the year, and you have to win match es now to he able to play in that. I also want to turn pro after col lege, so that keeps me going, too.” Kent said he’s confident that Joelson’s success will continue, but added that he’ll hate to lose him after he graduates. “I’m glad he has another year left to play here,” Kent said. “He’s a super person as well as a great tennis player. He has that little ingredient it takes to win. The ones that have it win, and the ones that don’t get beat by the ones that do.” County. He led his team to two CIF championships in three years. Texas A&M also signed Mike Clifford, a 6-6 toward from Round Rock High School. 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