Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Tennis Announces 2011-12 Team Captains
7/14/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
July 14, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell tennis named its team captains for the 2011-12 season, head coach Rebecca Helt announced on Thursday. Courtney Casey (Rockville, Md./Georgetown Visitation) received the nod on the women's side, while Gregg Cohenca (Purchase, N.Y./Rye Country Day School), Gregory Maxson (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Hotchkiss) and Evan Zimmer (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex) will lead the Bison men.
Casey finished second on the team in singles victories last season, posting a mark of 17-13. Her 11-16 record in doubles was also among Bucknell's best. As her junior season came to a close, Casey moved into the Bucknell record books. Now with a 54-42 career combined record, she ranks 29th in program history.
"The role of team captain is something that I have aspired to ever since my freshman year at Bucknell. As a senior, I feel very prepared to take on the great responsibility that comes along with being captain of this team," said Casey. "I believe that I possess the dedication and the positive attitude necessary in order to effectively lead this team so that we can reach our fullest potential. With seven incoming freshmen, we have a talented young group of girls that together I believe can accomplish great success. I have no doubt in my mind that if we work hard every day we will be able to achieve our ultimate goal of winning the Patriot League Championships."
Cohenca returns as Bucknell's top singles player, having finished last year with an overall record of 13-13 including a 7-9 mark at first singles. He also posted a doubles record of 16-10 while partnered with former teammate Mark Malloy, making them the winningest duo last season. Now a senior, Cohenca ranks 12th in program history in doubles wins (44-38) and 15th in combined victories (80-53). He was named a First Team All-Patriot League selection for the first time in his career in the spring.
"Bucknell tennis has been the centerpiece of my college experience. To serve as a captain for the upcoming season is an amazing opportunity and to do so alongside my good friends and teammates, Greg Maxson and Evan Zimmer, is particularly gratifying and exciting," said Cohenca. "As a captain, I am committed to bringing the communication and leadership skills, the determination and grit that need to be part of a team leader's profile. I have high expectations for the upcoming season and ending the season with anything less than a Patriot League Championship and NCAA invitation would be disappointing. I am fully committed to making it happen and so look forward to the challenge."
Zimmer earned his first all-league citation last spring, garnering a spot on the Second Team. The only men's player in the Patriot League to be named to the all-league and all-academic squad, Zimmer led all Bison with a 17-10 singles mark. He also finished 12-12 in doubles, which included an 8-7 record at first doubles when partnered with recent graduate Anton Kovic. Zimmer enters his junior season ranked just outside the top 25 in program history in both singles (27-14) and doubles (25-19). With a combined record of 52-33, he needs just two more victories to tie for 34th all-time.
"I consider it an honor to serve as a captain with Gregg and Greg. After spending two years on this team, I know that I have big shoes to fill. The previous captains have taught me so much on what this team is all about," said Zimmer. "We are a team of courage, hard work, discipline, and most importantly friendship. I know that I have already made lifelong relationships from this team and the freshmen will quickly see how close of a group we truly are. It is one of the best feelings to be able to depend on each and every player on this team both on and off the court.
"[Last] year we were very close to winning the Patriot League after a tough loss against Army. For this upcoming season, the other captains and I look forward to working harder than ever to bring home that title," Zimmer continued. "I cannot wait to get back on the court with all of [the] guys and start training for the upcoming season. I believe that we will have one of strongest tennis teams Bucknell has ever seen and will prove it throughout our season."
Despite seeing limited time on the courts last year, Maxson finished with a 10-7 record in singles and a 2-4 mark in doubles tournament play. Entering his senior campaign, Maxson has an overall combined record of 48-39.
"Three years at Bucknell have provided an incredible maturing experience for me, and I could not have grown in the ways I have if not for the support and guidance provided by my team captains each year. After following and learning from these former team players, I am honored to be able to lead this team and plan to do so by example with a positive attitude, a dedicated work ethic, and a helping hand on and off the court," said Maxson. "Our team has been so close to winning the big matches, and these failures will only drive us with new intensity this year towards our common goal of winning the Patriot League. I look forward to working with Coach Helt, my co-captains and the rest of our team as we continue our traditions of success and implement new ideas and strategies in order to be the best team we can be. We have a talented group of experienced returning players, and we look forward to assimilating the new athletes into our close team environment. This group of eleven players will push each other to new heights."
The Bucknell women's team, which was 10-11 overall and 3-2 in league play, finished third in the Patriot League last spring and advanced to the conference semifinals in the postseason before falling 4-2 to host Navy. The men's team put together one of its best seasons in recent history, going 11-8 overall and 3-2 in the Patriot League. Seeded fourth in the Patriot League Tournament, the Bison eventually fell in the semifinals to top-seeded Army, 4-2.
The Bison will begin their 2011-12 season with the Bucknell Quad Tournament, which runs Sept. 9-11 at the Varsity Tennis Courts.
