Nick Kowalczyk becomes ONU's all-time career wins leader as Men's Tennis blanks Marietta 9-0

By Tim Glon

MARIETTA — Senior Nick Kowalczyk became Ohio Northern's all-time career wins leader and broke the career singles wins record, helping the ONU men's tennis team to a 9-0 victory at Marietta on Tuesday.

The Polar Bears improve to 8-4 overall and are a perfect 6-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, while the Pioneers fall to 7-4, 2-3.

Kowalczyk won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles and combined with junior Joey Frank to win 8-0 at No. 1 doubles.

The victories give him 140 for his career, surpassing the previous record of 138 by Micah Scott from 2005-08.

Senior Andrew Korba and sophomore Josh Saunders won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles and sophomore Brian Bruin and freshman Sam Prewett won 8-0 at No. 3 doubles as ONU took a quick 3-0 lead.

Frank won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, Saunders won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, Korba won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4 singles, sophomore Mike King won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5 singles and Prewett won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to complete the sweep.

Kowalczyk is 71-45 in singles, is 69-33 in doubles and is 140-76 overall. This season, he is 17-5 in singles, 11-8 in doubles and is 28-13 overall.

He also ranks No. 1 all-time with his 71 singles wins, just ahead of the 70 by Joe Richards from 1996-99.

He is also fifth all-time at ONU with his 69 doubles wins and is six shy of Scott's record of 75.

The Polar Bears will return to action Saturday with a match at Baldwin-Wallace.