Northwestern University Athletics
Trio of Senior All-Big Ten Players Named Tri-Captains
1/9/2017 1:55:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern head men's tennis coach Arvid Swan and associate head coach Chris Klingemann announced Monday that the Wildcats' three seniors – Strong Kirchheimer, Sam Shropshire and Konrad Zieba – have been named tri-captains for the 2017 season.
The First Team All-Big Ten trio is looking to lead Northwestern to even greater heights this year after posting a school-record 26 wins and reaching as high as No. 7 in the national rankings last season.
"Konrad, Sam and Strong are three of the best players to ever play for Northwestern," Swan said. "Just as importantly, they are three of the hardest workers I have ever coached. They set the standard for our team on and off the court. Their commitment and competitiveness have elevated our program over their four years at Northwestern.
"The team and coaches look forward to the leadership that Konrad, Sam and Strong will provide every day during their senior season."
Kirchheimer is coming off a 30-win season and is ranked No. 26 to begin the year in the national singles rankings after winning the ITA Midwest Region title in the fall. He competed at the ITA National Indoor Championships and was a member of the U.S. team at the Master'U BNP Paribas International Collegiate Team competition.
Zieba was a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten player a year ago and reached as high as No. 8 in the national rankings after posting 14 wins against ranked opponents. Shropshire won 20-plus matches for the third consecutive year and earned First Team honors as well.
The senior trio will lead three sophomores and three freshmen on a team that is ranked No. 13 to begin the 2017 season.
The Wildcats open the season at Vanderbilt on Sunday, Jan. 15. The home opener is Friday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. against No. 7 TCU at the Combe Tennis Center.
The First Team All-Big Ten trio is looking to lead Northwestern to even greater heights this year after posting a school-record 26 wins and reaching as high as No. 7 in the national rankings last season.
"Konrad, Sam and Strong are three of the best players to ever play for Northwestern," Swan said. "Just as importantly, they are three of the hardest workers I have ever coached. They set the standard for our team on and off the court. Their commitment and competitiveness have elevated our program over their four years at Northwestern.
"The team and coaches look forward to the leadership that Konrad, Sam and Strong will provide every day during their senior season."
Kirchheimer is coming off a 30-win season and is ranked No. 26 to begin the year in the national singles rankings after winning the ITA Midwest Region title in the fall. He competed at the ITA National Indoor Championships and was a member of the U.S. team at the Master'U BNP Paribas International Collegiate Team competition.
Zieba was a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten player a year ago and reached as high as No. 8 in the national rankings after posting 14 wins against ranked opponents. Shropshire won 20-plus matches for the third consecutive year and earned First Team honors as well.
The senior trio will lead three sophomores and three freshmen on a team that is ranked No. 13 to begin the 2017 season.
The Wildcats open the season at Vanderbilt on Sunday, Jan. 15. The home opener is Friday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. against No. 7 TCU at the Combe Tennis Center.
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