Related Links:
NCAA Bracket (PDF)
NCAA Bracket (Interactive)
NCAA Digital Program
UW-Whitewater Regional Web Page
 
The No. 25 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's tennis team begins NCAA Division III Tournament play this Friday at 10 a.m. with a first round match against Edgewood at Wangerin Courts in Whitewater.
 
The Warhawks (21-7 overall) earned one of four "Pool B" bids reserved for independent schools or teams in conferences without automatic bids. UW-Whitewater is currently ranked 25th in the nation and sixth in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
 
The Warhawks will make their ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, all in the last nine seasons. The team has advanced past the first round five times, including a third-round berth in 2011. UW-Whitewater has been eliminated from the national tournament by Gustavus Adolphus – the team's second-round opponent with a win over Edgewood –  in each of the last three seasons and six times overall.
 
After starting the spring season with three straight losses against NCAA Division I teams, the Warhawks rattled off nine straight dual match victories, including three over regionally ranked opponents, one against a scholarship program (Cardinal Stritch) and a 6-3 win against then-No. 24 DePauw (Ind.) on the road.
 
UW-Whitewater capped its streak with a shutout victory over Edgewood, its NCAA first round opponent.
 
Following a tightly-contested 7-2 loss against Gustavus Adolphus, the Warhawks won seven of their next eight, including triumphs over nationally-ranked Colby (Maine) and Texas-Tyler.
 
UW-Whitewater then dropped consecutive decisions against Washington (Mo.) and Chicago, both ranked in the top 15 and fellow NCAA qualifiers, before ending the season on a five-match win streak. The Warhawks downed No. 36 Coe (Iowa), a potential opponent in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, by a 7-2 score.
 
With a difficult road to the national tournament, senior captain Cam Laktash (Crystal Lake, IL/South) believes the team is seasoned and ready to face the nation's top competition.
 
UW-Whitewater is hosting regional matches for the third time in the last four years. The Warhawks were sent to Gustavus Adolphus last season, falling in the first round against the Gusties.
 
"It's definitely a nice change, especially if we get to play outside," Laktash said. "Hopefully we get some people to come support us. Even if we play on indoor courts, that will still be a nice advantage."
 
Senior Ben Shklyar (Deerfield, IL/Deerfield) and junior Michael Treis (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) will represent the team at No. 1 doubles. Ranked sixth in the Central Region by the ITA, Shklyar and Treis are 13-5 playing together, the most wins on the team by any pair, and have won three straight entering NCAA play.
 
Laktash and junior Jake Humphreys (Kenosha/Tremper) will combine at the second position. The duo is 9-5 playing together and is 8-2 in its last 10 matches.
 
Junior captain Michael Schnarr (Madison/Memorial) and sophomore Rithwik Rajshekhar Raman (Chennai, Tamil Nadu-India/SAIDS British Education) are paired at No. 3. Schnarr and Raman are second on the team in wins as a duo with an 11-3 mark, including just one loss in dual match play.
 
"We're really confident we can get a lead after doubles," Laktash said. "That's where we pride ourselves. We practice doubles a lot and realize the importance of doubles and getting a lead."
 
Humphreys tops the singles lineup. Ranked fifth in the Central Region, Humphreys has several impressive wins on his resume in 2015, including No. 8 Motasem Al-Houni of Gustavus Adolphus, No. 2 Matthew Heinrich of Stevens Institute (N.J.), No. 16 Carl Reid of Colby and NAIA No. 22 Alvaro Iturriaga of Northwood (Fla.).
 
Treis, ranked 15th in the region and playing the second slot, is 17-4 in singles since joining the Warhawks prior to the start of the second semester.
 
"Jake and Mike are studs up at the top, and they're good leaders for us," Laktash said. "Anyone we go out and play, even teams with some of the top players in the country, we know they can go out and win at Nos. 1 and 2 for us. That gives everyone else confidence, seeing them beating guys from elite teams. It makes us want to be able to help them out."
 
Raman, the team's singles wins leader with a 19-12 record, will play at No. 3. Freshman Zane Navratil (Racine, Wis./The Prairie School) will compete at the fourth position.
 
Navratil is 16-12 in 2014-15. Shklyar (10-4) and Laktash (12-11) round out the UW-Whitewater lineup at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively.
 
Edgewood (16-10) received an automatic bid after winning the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament. The Eagles enter the national meet on a 10-match win streak.
 
Austin Papenthien is Edgewood's top singles player. He owns a record of 14-10 entering the tournament. Patrick Lagman, the team's No. 2 player, leads the team in wins with an 18-10 mark.
 
Papenthien and Lagman also play the No. 1 doubles position. The duo is 20-7 playing together this season.