The Ohio State men’s tennis team raked in ITA Midwest Regional honors after a dominating season of team competition that ended in disappointment.
Four Buckeyes earned regional awards just a few days after their crushing defeat to North Carolina in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Ty Tucker, the director of tennis, was awarded ITA Midwest Region Coach of the Year for the third straight season and the eighth of his career.
With wins in 57 consecutive matches against Big Ten opponents, Tucker led the Scarlet and Gray to their 14th consecutive Big Ten title. Tucker, who was a two-time All-American at Ohio State as player, also earned Big Ten Coach of the Year, marking 13 times he’s been the conference’s top coach.
Associate head coach Justin Kronauge won ITA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year for the fourth time. The award cannot honor the same assistant in back-to-back seasons, with Kronauge winning in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019.
In addition to the decorated coaching staff, the team’s two senior captains also earned postseason awards. Martin Joyce earned ITA Midwest Regional Senior Player of the Year and Hunter Tubert was named the ITA Midwest Regional Most Improved Senior.
Joyce (6-4, 185) concluded an excellent Ohio State career on a strong not, being named to the ITA Indoor All-Tournament Team at No. 4 singles after scoring the clinching point in the Buckeyes’ title match where they became indoor national champs.
Joyce, the 2016 ITA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, ranks No. 11 in Ohio State history with 206 career victories.
Tubert (6-1, 170) excels in doubles play, posting a team-best 34-5 doubles record on the season. He also made the ITA Indoor All-Tournament Team at both No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
The Huntington, W.Va., native showed vast improvement in Columbus, boasting a 21-7 record in singles play as a senior after a 13-11 ledger in his first three season.
After a respectable 26-9 sophomore campaign, Tubert notched a 65-10 record across his final two seasons. His career double record of 102-20 leaves him just three wins shy of Ohio State’s top-10 list.
While the Buckeyes were eliminated from the NCAA team tournament, the NCAA singles championship and doubles championship are ahead.
Tubert and Joyce will team up in NCAA doubles championship. It will be Tubert’s first appearance and the third for Joyce, who earned All-America honors last year after finishing in second.
Hunter Tubert – courtesy of Ohio State athletics.
Martin Joyce – courtesy of Ohio State athletics.
