The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, September 05, 1996, Image 13

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Page 13
Thursday • September 5, 1996
leinecke enters twelfth season on a roll
By Sara Duesing
The Battalion
'otivating, approachable, encouraging
— impressive words of praise used by
. Lady Aggie Tennis players when asked
tdescribe their head coach, Bobby Kleinecke.
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Pat James, The Battalion
imor Monica Reboiledo serves one up while
acticing at the Omar Smith Tennis Facility.
It is these traits that the Texas A&M players
have grown accustomed to from their coach,
and the primary reason for the team’s 20-6 sea
son last year, and Kleinecke’s being named
Southwest Conference Coach of the Year.
But Kleinecke is quick to give the same kind
of praise to his players.
“It was a great honor,” Kleinecke said. “But
the players really earn it for the coach.”
Heading into his twelfth year as head coach
of the women’s team, Kleinecke is excited
about the new season, describing the team as
“a great, fun group to work with.”
Kleinecke, who has compiled a career
record of 138-121 at A&M, said he has been
taught and inspired by great coaches through
out his career. They helped give him the desire
and training to be a coach.
“I have wanted to be a coach since I was a
sophomore in high school,” Kleinecke said. “I
had a good coach there (Vince Stiglich) and at
West Texas State.”
It was at West Texas State where Kleinecke
had a stellar collegiate career under the
watchful eye of former A&M Men’s Tennis
Coach David Kent. Kleinecke won five
Missouri Valley Conference titles during that
time, and his collegiate experience vaulted
him into a career in coaching.
It is that experience and know-how that the
Lady Aggie coach instills in his players and the
reason for his team’s success.
“He knows what it is like for us,” senior Julie
Beahm said. “He can relate to our situation.”
Junior Vanessa Rooks said Kleinecke serves
as a calming influence.
“He helps us to relax when we get tense on
the court,” Rooks said.
Kleinecke said he finds it most rewarding to
witness a player grow over time on the court.
Pat James, The Battalion
1996 SWC Coach of the Year Bobby
Kleinecke passes out equipment to his players.
“[It’s important toj stress improvement —
it’s not about winning or losing.”
When new players enter the program,
Kleinecke said he emphasizes improving tal
ent that is already present.
“It’s good to add a little bit [to their game], but
See Kleinecke, Page 16
New conference, same lofty
goals for women’s tennis
By Sara Duesing
The Battalion
When the last match was
completed and the results were
calculated, the 1995-96 Texas
A&M Women’s Tennis Team
found itself ranked 22nd in the
country, two places shy of its
original goal of finishing in the
top 20.
This season, the Lady Aggies
have once
again set the
same stan
dards for
themselves
despite joining
the new and
more competi
tive Big 12
Conference.
“ W e ’ v ev
played most of
these teams,” junior Vanessa
Rooks said. “It (the new competi
tion) is not going to be a surprise.”
Head Coach Bobby Kleinecke
said the team is prepared for the
new competition and has high
expectations.
“We are not as experienced,
but we do have the potential to
surpass (the ranking) last year,”
Dingwall
Kleinecke said. “Our main goal
is to win the conference. That’s
one we set every time.”
The 1996-97 team is young
with three freshmen joining the
returnees from last season.
Senior Julie Beahm and Rooks,
who together captured the SWC
No. 3 doubles crown last spring,
will be returning.
Senior captain Nancy
Dingwall said the new faces and
youth are not seen as a disad
vantage by the team members.
“Since we don’t have the
experience, we are going to go
on pure excitement,” Dingwall
said. “With a young team, we are
going to go out, work hard and
have fun.” Kleinecke said the
coaches are emphasizing cama
raderie this season.
“We don’t get six star players,”
Kleinecke said. “We have to
strive to be a good team, which
includes working together in
order to compete well.”
Dingwall said the Lady Aggies
also plan to concentrate on
maintaining an upbeat attitude.
“Individually, we have to keep
a positive attitude so that our
See Tennis, Page 15
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ew men’s tennis coach
Tim Cass
leaves New
Mexico for the
greener pastures
of Texas A&M.
By Jamie Burch
The Battalion
T exas A&M Men’s Tennis Head
Coach Tim Cass faces per
haps the toughest task of any
coach at A&M this season —
replacing a legend.
The former University of New
Mexico head coach was hired this
summer to replace David Kent, the
ninth most winningest collegiate
coach in the country, who retired
after suffering a mild heart attack
on April 1.
Cass has spent the last seven
years coaching the Lobos. During
his tenure he revitalized a program
that had not won a championship
in 23 years.
Cass posted a 110-78 record
during his stay, and in the last
five years he was named
Western Athletic Conference
Coach of the Year, captured five
straight WAC titles and traveled
to the NCAA Tournament.
Cass said that because he
built such a strong program in
only seven years, it was difficult
for him to leave.
“I really hoped that I would
come down here and not like it,”
Cass said.
Cass was not only successful in
turning the Lobos into a winning
program, but also built a strong
fan base and successfully lobbied
for a new tennis facility.
However, Cass likes A&M and
is now searching for a perma
nent home in the area.
“I liked everything that I vis
ited, from Cain Hall to the cafe
teria food to the professional
ism with which they do things,
both academically and athleti
cally,” Cass said. “I really liked
everything.”
Unlike New Mexico, A&M does
not have a program that Cass
must rebuild. Instead, Cass said
he has the job of building on thq
foundation that Kent laid in his 18
years as head of the program.
“It will be a great challenge,”
Cass not
Cass said. “My dream is to make
a team that realistically will be
fighting for a national champi
onship.”
Cass said he believes his goal is
realistic and sees the Aggies
attaining the national champi
onship within the next three to
five years.
“We’re going to recruit the
best student athletes that we
possibly can,” Cass said. “There’s
no other reason I took the job
than to get us into position to
compete with the elite groups.”
Senior Robbie Krause said
Cass has made a good first
impression on the team.
“He’s very excited to be coming
here,” Krause said. “He is hard
work all the way. That’s his style.”
Junior Carlos Tori said Cass will
definitely make a strong impact on
the team considering his extensive
knowledge of collegiate tennis.
“He’s excited about coming
here, about the team and working
hard,” Tori said. “You can tell he
in rebuilding mood
knows a lot about college tennis.”
Krause said Cass’ goals and dri
ving excitement has led the play
ers to strive even harder in the off
season and the players are
focused and committed to doing
what it takes to win.
“Everyone is practicing on a
consistent basis,” Krause said.
“No one is complaining or mak
ing excuses. They’re just getting
the job done.”
Besides Cass’ enthusiasm, the
players excitement stems from
the fact that the 32-year-old Cass
is one of the youngest Division I
head coaches.
“He’ll definitely be a player’s
coach,” junior Eric Elek said. “He
played not too long ago and
knows what we enjoy as players.”
Tori said his age is his
biggest asset.
“There will be a closer rela
tionship between player and
coach,” Tori said. “You can talk to
him more as a friend.”
Pat James, The Battalion
Men's tennis coach Tim Cass works
out on the courts on Wednesday.
EXXON Presents: Opportunities in Information Systems
and Technology
What: Presentation on careers in Information Systems
When: Thursday, September 5th at 7:00 PM
Where: College Station Hilton
Who: Anyone interested in an Information Systems career
Sponsor: Texas A&M Student Chapter of the DPMA
Topics Include:
♦ Presentation from Information Systems Department Manager for Exxon, Co.
USA on views of Information Systems from a senior executive’s standpoint.
♦ Technology in the Information Systems world at Exxon
♦ Real world example of a project implementation.
♦ Personal experiences from fellow Aggies who have recently been hired or interned.
♦ Opportunities available.
Exxon is an equal opportunity employer.
996-1997
Official
Texas A&M
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Available at the Texas A&M Bookstore