Northwestern University Athletics
Torricelli Inks Two to National Letters of Intent
11/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Nov. 21, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Paul Torricelli today announced the signing of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Andrew McCarthy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) and Peter Rispoli (Naples, Fla./St. Stephen's (Texas)) will join the 'Cats for the 2007-08 season.
"We're very excited about these two recruits," Torricelli said. "Peter and Andrew are terrific college prospects with great potential. Both are good servers who will give our team a new dimension next season."
McCarthy, who has played No. 1 singles throughout high school, has been a district or sectional champion or finalist all three years. He played in the doubles finals of the state championship in 2003 and played No. 3 state singles in 2004. In 2005 he participated and won MVP honors at the state team championships. The Indian Hill Braves won the Division II team state championship in 2003 and 2005.
McCarthy breaks family tradition by joining the Wildcats as his two older brothers play or played tennis for Indiana. Ryan McCarthy last played for the Hoosiers in 2005 and Mike McCarthy currently is a junior in Bloomington.
Rispoli, who hails from Florida, attended high school in Texas. He has won several national tournaments including an International Tennis Federation championship. He has been ranked in the top-35 nationally in every age group.
He has a family history filled with tennis success. His father Fred Rispoli was a national collegiate tennis champion.
Additionally, Rispoli, who wishes to major in industrial engineering, is a highly accomplished student of Chinese language. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and is a member of the Chinese National Honors Society.
"Both Peter and Andrew have reputations for working hard and doing the extra things to improve," Torricelli said. "The key to being a successful college player is investing time on-court, which will certainly be the case."
Full biographies of the signees appear below:
Andrew McCarthy
5-11
Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill
High School: Played No. 1 singles last three years, No. 2 in freshman years ... Captain junior year ... Finals of doubles state championship (2003) ... State team winner (2003) ... No. 3 state singles (2004) ... State team championship and M.V.P. (2005) ... All-state all three years ... District and sectional champion or finalist all three years ... Team won division II state championship in 2003 and 2005.
Personal: Born Andrew Robert McCarthy on 1/19/89 ... Son of Janis and Devin McCarthy ... Brother Ryan played tennis for Indiana and Brother Mike is currently a junior for the Hoosiers ... Chose Northwestern over Kentucky and Purdue.
Peter Rispoli
6-3
Naples, Fla./St. Stephen's (Texas)
High School: Achieved professional ATP ranking ... Won several national junior tournaments ... Member of Chinese National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Peter Edward Rispoli on 9/23/88 ... Son of Anthony and Nancy Rispoli ... Fluent in Mandarin Chinese ... Plans to major in industrial engineering ... Played against fellow recruit Andrew McCarthy ... Chose Northwestern over Ohio State, Stanford, Penn State and Wisconsin.
