Wednesday, May 23, 2007

USF Tennis Legend Harry Likas To Be Inducted Wednesday Into Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame


USF tennis star Harry Likas, who won the 1948 NCAA singles championship and is a member of the University's Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted into the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame on Wednesday, May 23rd.

The induction will take place during the NCAA Championships at the University of Georgia in Athens.

"Harry Likas is a class act," said current USF men's tennis coach Peter Bartlett. "He put USF tennis on the map and helped build the program that won the national championship in 1949. We are proud to have him in the Hall."

"I am very honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Likas. "It is great for people to know that USF had a top, top program and remember what we accomplished. Winning the singles championship in 1948 was fantastic and this is the icing on the cake."

Likas was honored at the USF "Night of Champions Dinner" and was written up in the commemorative book, "Legends of the Hilltop."

His biography from that publication:

Prior to winning the 1948 NCAA Singles Championship, Harry Likas had established a successful track record in singles competition, especially on the West Coast. He had won the California State Junior, Pacific Coast Junior and the Western Junior titles. He also had advanced to the quarter-finals in the first post war match of the U.S. Open in Forest Hills in October 1946. Later that year, he was one of sixteen top tennis players in the U.S. invited to participate in the Sugar Bowl Invitational.

As the Dons opened their 1947 spring season, Likas was ranked number 15 in the U.S. He had already defeated many of the top players and was considered "an outstanding young player who will go far."

Seeded number one for USF, Likas handily defeated players from Santa Clara, St. Mary's, University of the Pacific and San Francisco State in both singles and doubles. At season-end, the Don netters boasted an outstanding record, sweeping all Bay Area competition en route to winning the Northern California Collegiate crown.

In his last year for the Dons, Likas-with one exception-won every match he played, including the Northern California Invitational where his deadly backhand defeated Don teammate Conway Catton (6-1, 6-4). Likas and Harry Roche teamed to win their doubles match as the Dons won the team title and were presented with the William Johnson Memorial Trophy.

The following month, Likas bested Catton to win the Ojai Invitational. The headline in the Foghorn read, "Likas Rammycackles All Comers in Ojai Invitational." Likas then went on to capture the 1948 NCAA Singles Championship. Seeded number five, he awed the three top players, finally upsetting top seed Victor Seixas of North Carolina in a hard fought 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 match to take the title.

Harry Likas continued on the tennis circuit outpacing five Wimbledon Champions in sectional play before joining the corporate world in 1949.

He attended Lowell High School before coming to the Hilltop.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Matthew Berry Named First Team All-West Coast Conference



Thong Tu named to second team, Asaf Cohen honorable mention


May 3, 2007

USF senior Matthew Berry, who recorded a 27-7 singles mark at number one singles this season, has been named first team all-West Coast Conference.

Berry, a senior from South Africa, came on strong at the end of the season, winning his last 10 singles matches and 16 of his last 18 decisions, all at number one singles. On the year his dual match record was 21-4 and he won all three matches in the WCC Championships.

"Matt had a special year," said Dons head coach Peter Bartlett. "It is great to have a senior leader at number one who consistently earns you a point match in and match out. He is well respected throughout the league and truly deserved this honor."

Sophomore Thong Tu, a sophomore from Alameda was named second team all-West Coast Conference and Asaf Cohen, a freshman from Tel Aviv, Israel was named honorable mention.

Tu had a strong season, recording a 22-11 record, 16-8 in dual matches. He was 6-1 at the number two slot and 10-6 at the third position.

Cohen won seven of his last ten singles matches

Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Andre Begemann, Pepperdine
Freshman of the Year: Bassam Beidas, Pepperdine
Coach of the Year: Michael Wayman, Saint Mary's


2007 Men's Singles All-Conference Team
First Team
Bassam Beidas, Pepperdine
Andre Begemann, Pepperdine
Matthew Berry, San Francisco
James Lemke, Pepperdine
Thomas Liversage, San Diego
Andre Sion, Saint Mary's


Second Team
Chris Coetzee, San Diego
Joel Kusnierz, Saint Mary's
Jan Macek, Santa Clara
Matt Ozurovich, San Diego
Bobby Rasmussen, Santa Clara
Thong Tu, San Francisco
Jay Wong, Santa Clara


Honorable Mention
Marco Pineda, GON; Richard Johnson, PEP; Charl Wolmarans, USD; Asaf Cohen, USF; Brian Brogan, SCU; Blane Shields, SCU


2007 Men's Doubles All-Conference Team
First Team
Richard Johnson & Omar Altmann, Pepperdine
Andre Begemann & Mahmoud Kamel, Pepperdine
Filip Zivkovic & Colby Jager, Portland


Second Team
Bassam Beidas & James Lemke, Pepperdine
Chris Coetzee & Thomas Liversage, San Diego
Jan Macek & Bobby Rasmussen, Santa Clarad finished the season 19-12 overall and 16-8 in dual matches.