Hall of Fame
2000 Men's Tennis Team (Team)
- Induction:
- 2011
- Class:
- 2000
The 2000 Montana State men’s tennis team was a Band of Brothers, led by head coach Dean Owen.
They were a group that played for each other, worked hard for each other and got in the best shape of their lives. What they accomplished in 2000 set the tone for Bobcat tennis dominance (four Big Sky titles) during the ensuing decade.
“It’s fitting that we’re going into the Hall of Fame as a team,” said Thijs Goossens, who played at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles in 2000. “We knew we had a solid group of guys returning and we were capable of achieving our goals.”
After defeating the Grizzlies twice during the season, the 2000 Bobcats entered the Big Sky tournament with confidence. MSU defeated NAU 4-3 in the semifinals and captured the league crown with a 4-2 victory over rival Sacramento State.
“No where was it more evident that we achieved as a team than at the Big Sky tournament,” Goossens said. “Some of us didn’t play well against NAU, but others picked us up. Against Sacramento State, it was the other way around and senior Kris Hauck clinched it for us.”
With the Big Sky’s automatic berth to the NCAA championships, the Bobcats drew the University of Texas in its opening round match. The Longhorns entered as one of the top programs in the country. Also playing at the first-round site was Ohio State and Boise State.
Despite facing a national power, the Bobcats were brazen and fearless stepping on to the court.
“We gave them a run,” Goossens said. “We wanted to stay on the court as long as we could. Wally (Lukasz Mazur) was winning his match at No. 1 against a guy ranked in the top 15 and BJ (Hauck) and I had a great match at No. 1 doubles. I thought we gave it a good shot.”
Goossens, the Hauck Brothers, and Mazur, along with Kevin Reeder, Chris Tokar and Jason Swanson were the first Bobcats to ever win a Big Sky tennis title. They broke new ground for the program.
The Band of Brothers still stay in touch with each other, despite being scattered around the world- Switzerland, Poland, Montana and beyond.
“”We like to think that we set a new standard and set the bar for Montana State tennis,” Goossens said.
Indeed they did.
They were a group that played for each other, worked hard for each other and got in the best shape of their lives. What they accomplished in 2000 set the tone for Bobcat tennis dominance (four Big Sky titles) during the ensuing decade.
“It’s fitting that we’re going into the Hall of Fame as a team,” said Thijs Goossens, who played at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles in 2000. “We knew we had a solid group of guys returning and we were capable of achieving our goals.”
After defeating the Grizzlies twice during the season, the 2000 Bobcats entered the Big Sky tournament with confidence. MSU defeated NAU 4-3 in the semifinals and captured the league crown with a 4-2 victory over rival Sacramento State.
“No where was it more evident that we achieved as a team than at the Big Sky tournament,” Goossens said. “Some of us didn’t play well against NAU, but others picked us up. Against Sacramento State, it was the other way around and senior Kris Hauck clinched it for us.”
With the Big Sky’s automatic berth to the NCAA championships, the Bobcats drew the University of Texas in its opening round match. The Longhorns entered as one of the top programs in the country. Also playing at the first-round site was Ohio State and Boise State.
Despite facing a national power, the Bobcats were brazen and fearless stepping on to the court.
“We gave them a run,” Goossens said. “We wanted to stay on the court as long as we could. Wally (Lukasz Mazur) was winning his match at No. 1 against a guy ranked in the top 15 and BJ (Hauck) and I had a great match at No. 1 doubles. I thought we gave it a good shot.”
Goossens, the Hauck Brothers, and Mazur, along with Kevin Reeder, Chris Tokar and Jason Swanson were the first Bobcats to ever win a Big Sky tennis title. They broke new ground for the program.
The Band of Brothers still stay in touch with each other, despite being scattered around the world- Switzerland, Poland, Montana and beyond.
“”We like to think that we set a new standard and set the bar for Montana State tennis,” Goossens said.
Indeed they did.
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