FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Monday, May 20, 2002)

ALEX WONG '03 QUALIFIES FOR NCAA DIV. III MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Alex Wong '03, the number-one singles player on the men's tennis team, was chosen to play in the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championships, hosted by the U. of California - Santa Cruz. Singles match competition began on Monday, May 20, and Wong dropped his first-round match to Brian Alvo (Washington U., Mo.), 2-6, 0-6. The tournament is a 32-man, single-elimination bracket.

Wesleyan's number-one player in both singles and doubles since his freshman year, Wong compiled an overall record of 11-10 during the 2001-02 season prior to Nationals. He was picked as the number-eight seed from the East region for the NCAAs on the strength of his second-place finish in the NESCAC Championships in April. There he upset national qualifiers Richard Lawrence of Trinity and Dave Ruttenberg of Tufts before losing to Josh Lefkowitz of Williams, the top-ranked player in Division III.

Over his three seasons with the team, Wong has compiled a singles record of 24-37 with 57 of those matches at no. 1. He also has been part of the team's number-one doubles tandem for three seasons with an overall record of 29-30, 13-7 this year. Wong is the first Cardinal male to attend Nationals in tennis since Tom Reifenheiser '94 earned runner-up status at the NCAA Division III Championships during the 1994 season.

Wong is a native of Newton, Mass. and attended Newton South High School.

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