Tabler, Todd to play tennis at UA Fort Smith
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/Sports/60159/
BENTONVILLE — Bentonville seniors Martin Tabler and Andrew Todd have grown up playing tennis together and that will continue at the college level.
The two Tiger seniors signed letters of intent Thursday at the Tiger Athletic Complex — together — to accept scholarship offers from Arkansas-Fort Smith. “ These guys are both great, ” BHS coach Paul Pautsch said. “ And this is perfect for me because I can get in the car and go watch ’em. ” Tabler and Todd are two of five seniors who helped Bentonville to a record of 50-0 during regular season matches the past four years.
They’ll join a program that’s relatively new to the UAFS athletic family but one that’s also a winner. The Lions fielded their first team in 2005-06 and qualified for the national tournament. Last year they returned to the national tournament and finished 10 th.
“ They’ve improved every single year and this year they took a really huge step, ” Tabler says.
Adds Todd: “ They’re going Division II and that should be a step up. ”
Beginning with the 2009-2010 season, all UAFS athletic teams will transition from junior college to NCAA and compete at the Division II level.
Todd, a four-year singles player for Pautsch, finished his senior season as state runner-up at the Class 7 A State Tournament in Bella Vista. The Tigers finished runner-up in the team standings for the second consecutive year.
There’s not a player that grinds on the tennis court quite like Todd, says his friend.
“ He’s so competitive, ” Tabler says. “ You win the first set from him but you can’t let up because he’ll take it right back from you and he’s right back in the match. ”
Tabler, a left-hander, reached the doubles semifinals with partner with Retz Chapman at the state meet. In 2006 they were conference champs and state runnersup.
Tabler is also a pitcher for the Tigers baseball team and has a 2-0 conference record this season with wins against Springdale and FS Northside.
“ Martin’s about as quick as any guy you’ll find in the state, ” Todd says. “ He’ll move you all around the court and he’s a lefty, too, so he has different spins on the ball. ” Tabler and Todd say they’ll play singles at UAFS. They each finished 2007 in the top 10 in boys’ 18 singles in rankings compiled by the Arkansas Tennis Association — Tabler seventh and Todd 10 th.