EAST CAROLINA MEN'S TENNIS SIGNS THREE
November 16, 2005 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 16, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Three high-level junior performers and state champion high school student-athletes have signed national letters-of-intent to attend and play men's tennis at East Carolina University, head coach Shawn Heinchon announced Wednesday.
Sam McSpadden from Little Rock, Ark., Bryan Oakley from Statesville, N.C., and Matt Peeler from Lexington, N.C., have all joined the Pirate program and will enroll at ECU next fall.
"This is an incredible accomplishment for us," Heinchon said. "We could not be happier with the three individuals we have signed. All of these young men have proven they can win at the highest junior level. We are not only getting great tennis players, but quality people as well. Needless to say, we are fortunate to have them be a part of the Pirate tennis program."
McSpadden, who has earned a No. 1 United States Tennis Association state ranking in the 16's and 18's Division, captured the singles title for Little Rock Central High School as a sophomore while competing in Arkansas' largest prep classification. He was a finalist in the Southern Open Indoor Championships and has competed in the National Hard Court Championships, National Clay Court Championships as well as the Easter Bowl Championships. Rated as the top prospect in Arkansas by TennisRecruiting.net, McSpadden has posted a 29-8 record when playing opponents in his national recruiting classification.
Oakley has captured three prep state titles in singles and doubles play and earned North Carolina Class 4-A Player-of-the-Year honors while playing at North Mecklenburg High School as a freshman before transferring to Statesville Christian School. A doubles finalist at the National Open, Oakley's highest state USTA ranking is a No. 2 standing in the 16's and 18's Division while rating No. 14 among the organization's Southern Regional field. He is the sixth-highest ranked prospect in North Carolina who has earned a four-star rating by TennisRecruiting.net. He was won 47 of 64 national matches against opponents designated in a similar classification or lower.
Peeler, who will finish his final prep season at Statesville (N.C.) High School this spring, holds a No. 4 state and No. 34 Southern Regional rank while playing on the 16's and 18's level according to USTA. In addition to being a three-time NCISAA State Champion, he also defeated three seeded players at the Bullfrog Southern Sectional Tournament in Mobile, Ala. Tabbed a four-star prospect by TennisRecruiting.net, he has fashioned a 32-12 national record against players of equal distinction or below. Peeler also finished among the top 50 players nationally in the 14s.
