2008 Woodie Awards
Men's tennis overcomes adversity with confidence
JASON BUTT
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Sports
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Even after the Georgia men's tennis team battled through injuries to Luis Flores, Travis Helgeson and Drake Bernstein for significant amounts of time. Even after the Bulldogs learned on Monday that Javier Garrapiz has come down with a case of mononucleosis.
Hunt still believes Georgia is the best team in the country.
And why not take this line of thinking? The Bulldogs are undefeated in SEC play and have a chance to clinch the SEC regular season with wins over Kentucky and Vanderbilt this weekend.
"We came in this year and thought we'd be a good team and we've been building and working extremely hard," Hunt said. "Now we believe we can win the NCAAs. We're so confident right now that we don't think we're going to lose another match. We know we can beat The Ohio State and Virginia, the No. 2 and No. 1 teams - especially with Luis back. When healthy, I think we're the best team in the nation."
Collegiate tennis teams normally aren't bitten by the injury bug that plagues football teams. No one on last year's Georgia team suffered a serious injury.
But according to senior Travis Helgeson, having to battle through this adversity has prepared the Bulldogs for the closing stretch of the season.
"I think that's gotten us better. Right now we don't get surprised about whatever happens," Helgeson said. "Javier now has mono so we're expecting the worst at the moment and prepared for whatever needs to happen."
Georgia has played only two matches this season with everyone available. Head coach Manuel Diaz said he can't think of a time where he's had to change the lineup so many times.
"I've never been involved with a team that has had to use eight players as much as we have this year," Diaz said. "This is a true team from top to bottom."
And while Diaz has been forced to alter his lineup at times, the Bulldogs have run out to an 18-1 record, with the lone loss coming to Ohio State at the National Indoors.
"I don't think a whole lot of people thought we could be this good and all the credit in the world goes to these guys and the kind of season they've had."
"We've had almost a different lineup every match and we've been able to be just fine," Helgeson said. "The one good thing about this year is we've got versatility. We've shown that everyone can play in the lineup and step in when they need to."
Georgia's adversity has led to confidence. After Georgia's win over Arkansas, Nate Schnugg said he didn't think the Bulldogs would lose again. Hunt agreed.
Even Diaz believes Georgia has a shot to win all of its remaining matches.
"I think it's within us. I think it's a possibility," Diaz said. "I'd like to think that we can run the table."
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