May 14, 2012
2012 ITA Regional Awards
TULSA, Okla. - Thomas Liversage and senior Ashley Watlingboth earned 2012 ITA Central Region awards, the organization announced today.
Liversage was named the ITA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year, while Watling was named the Senior of the Year.
Liversage helped lead the Golden Hurricane to a 20-8 record, a second-straight Conference USA Championship and the second-straight appearance in the NCAA Round of 16.
Tulsa has won 14 of its last 15 matches, and the team upset No. 10 Oklahoma in the NCAA Second Round May 12.
Liversage became the third Tulsa coach to be named ITA Central Region Coach of the Year (Dean Orford, 1997-2000, 2002 - Michael Wheelen, 2007).
Watling has a 24-10 singles record this season and he has also compiled a 29-9 doubles mark. He owns victories over three ranked singles players, including No. 23 Gonzalo Escobar of Texas Tech and No. 30 Enej Bonin of Denver.
He has also defeated nine ranked doubles teams, including his last match where he teamed with junior Clifford Marslandto defeat No. 10 Costin Paval and Dane Webb.
Watling became the sixth player in TU men's history to win the senior player of the year award (Chris Milliron, 1995 - Gareth Williams, 1999 - Ryan Livesay, 2003 - Dustin Taylor, 2004 - Arnau Brugues, 2009).
Watling is the No. 77-ranked singles player, and he will compete in the NCAA Singles Championships May 22-27 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
He and Marsland are ranked No. 11 in the nation in doubles and they will compete in the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Watling owns 97 career doubles wins and 86 career singles triumphs.
The Golden Hurricane will face No. 7 Pepperdine in the NCAA Round of 16 at 6 p.m. May 18 in Athens, Ga.
2012 ITA CENTRAL REGION AWARD WINNERS
Coach of the Year - John Roddick, Oklahoma
Assistant Coach of the Year - Thomas Liversage, Tulsa
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award - Christopher Aumueller, Nebraska
Senior of the Year - Ashley Watling, Tulsa
Player to Watch - Guillermo Alcorta, Oklahoma
Rookie of the Year - Dane Webb, Oklahoma
ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award - Christopher Aumueller, Nebraska
In eight years as a member of Conference USA, Tulsa athletic teams have won a league-best 48 conference championships.
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Since the opening of the Donald W. Reynolds Center in 1998, Tulsa’s athletic facilities have undergone a major facelift. New facilities include the Michael D. Case Tennis Center, the Collins Family Softball Complex, the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium, the J. Bird Sr. Shell Nest, the Jack Zink Indoor Rowing Center, the Case Athletic Complex and major renovation to H.A. Chapman Stadium.
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