March 27, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ­ - The Illinois men's tennis team is celebrating 100 years of Men's Tennis at the University of Illinois during the 2007 season and will use the March 31 match at 1 p.m. against Northwestern to honor a 16-member All-Century team and the 1946 Big Ten Championship team. The ceremony will take place between doubles and singles, honoring those All-Century team members who have returned for the event, as well as celebrating the 60-year anniversary of the 1946 Big Ten Championship.

Among those set to return should their professional tennis careers and schedules allow, will be 2003 NCAA singles champion Amer Delic, 2003 NCAA doubles champion Rajeev Ram and recent 2006 graduate and All-American Ryler DeHeart.

A special reception open to the public as well as the honorees and their families will be held on Friday, March 29, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bielfeldt building in the Hall of Fame Room located at South Fourth Street, directly west of Assembly Hall. Tickets will be $15 per person and can be purchased by calling 217-244-6705.

The 16-member team is comprised of representatives from almost every decade that the program has been in place and consists of those players that won a Big Ten singles championship and/or were named All-Americans.

The All-Century honorees includes head coach Craig Tiley (1993-2005) and the following players in order of years played: Walter Beck (1916-17), Frank Meyers (1921-22), Tim O'Connell (1925-28), Edward Lejeck (1931-32), Oliver Freelove (1995-99), Gavin Sontag (1995-99), Cary Franklin (1996-2000), Jeff Laski (1996-2000), Graydon Oliver (1999-2000), Phil Stolt (1000-04), Delic (2000-03), Michael Calkins (2001-04), DeHeart (2002-06), Ram (2003) and Wilson (2000-04). Named honorary team captain for the team was Chris Martin (2002-05).

ILLINOIS MEN'S TENNIS ALL-CENTURY TEAM

Head Coach Craig Tiley (1993-2005)
Led the Fighting Illini to the 2003 NCAA Championship with behind a perfect 32-0 record ... Wrapped up his career as Illinois' all-time winningest coach (274), and owns every Illini coaching record in the books ... Six-time ITA Region IV and two-time NCAA Coach of the Year honoree.

Walter Beck (1916-17)
Became Illinois' first Big Ten singles champion in 1916 ... Teamed with Ernest McKay to become Illinois' first Big Ten doubles champion in 1917.

Michael Calkins (2001-04)
All-time winningest player in program history with a combined 246 victories ... A 2002 All-American, two-time All-Big Ten selection and the 2002 Big Ten singles champion.

Ryler DeHeart (2002-06)
A 2005 All-American and All-Big Ten selection ... First Illini to be ranked the preseason No. 1 by the ITA ... 2005 Jesse Owens Big Ten Athlete of the Year ... All-time Illinois career singles leader with 138 wins.

Amer Delic (2000-03)
In 2003, became the first Illinois NCAA singles champion ... Three-time All-American and a two-time All-Big Ten selection ... 2003 Jesse Owens Big Ten Athlete of the Year.

Cary Franklin (1996-2000)
Teamed with Graydon Oliver to win Illinois' first NCAA doubles championship in 2000 ... Two-time All-American and four-time All-Big Ten selection ... Owns top-two spots in the Illinois record book for single season doubles wins with 34 in 1999 and 33 in 2000.

Oliver Freelove (1995-99)
1999 All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection ... With partner Cary Franklin, ranks No. 1 all-time in single season team doubles wins (34).

Jeff Laski (1996-2000)
2000 All-American and All-Big Ten selection ... Ranks No. 2 all-time in career doubles victories with a record of 118-43.

Edward Lejeck (1931-32)
Illinois' only Big Ten singles champion during the 1930s, capturing the title in 1932. [No photo available]

Frank Meyers (1921-22)
Broke a five-year drought for the Illini when he captured the 1922 Big Ten singles championship. [No photo available]

Tim O'Connell (1925-28)
The only Illinois netter to capture multiple Big Ten singles titles, winning three-straight from 1926-28 ... A two-time Big Ten doubles champion with partners Ed Schoaff (1926) and Gordon Brandy (1927).

Graydon Oliver (1999-2000)
Teamed with Cary Franklin to win Illinois' first NCAA doubles championship in 2000 ... A two-time All-American and All-Big Ten selection ... 2001 Big Ten Medal of Honor honoree.

Rajeev Ram (2003)
2003 All-American and All-Big Ten selection ... Part of only the second doubles tandem to win an NCAA doubles title, teaming with Brian Wilson (2003) to achieve the feat.

Gavin Sontag (1995-99)
Illinois' first All-American in 1998 ... 1997 Big Ten singles champion ... Two-time All-Big Ten selection during his tenure.

Phil Stolt (2000-04)
2004 All-American and ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Award honoree ... Four-time All-Big Ten selection and was the 2004 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner.

Brian Wilson (2000-04)
Two-time All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten selection ... Part of only the second doubles tandem to win an NCAA doubles title, teaming with Rajeev Ram (2003) to achieve the feat.

Honorary Team Captain Chris Martin (2002-05)
Honorary All-Century team captain ... Three-time Academic All-American, ITA Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten selection ... Clinched the winning point in the 2003 NCAA Championship finals, leading the Illini to its first national title.