Portonova Named MAC Freedom Player of the Year
By: Import User
Updated: May 1, 2007
King's College tennis standout Mike Portonova
(Hazleton/Bishop Hafey) has been named the
MAC Freedom Conference "Player of the Year" for the third straight season, the
Middle Atlantic Conference Office announced Thursday. Additionally, Monarch
teammate Nick Hojsack (Kingston/Wyoming Valley
West) was a second-teal All-Freedom
selection.
A junior, Portonova was named the conference's top player by a
vote of league coaches for the third straight season. The Monarch star has won
the Middle Atlantic Conference singles championship each of the past two
seasons, as well as the 2006 doubles title. In his three-year career with the
Monarchs, Portonova owns a 64-2 singles record and is currently 15-1 with 14
straight victories. This season he has won 31 sets, including 17 straight, while
drooping just three.
Hojsack, meanwhile, is a repeat second-team choice
who is 11-5 playing behind Portonova at number-two singles. A year ago the
Monarch junior teamed with Portonova to win the 2006 MAC doubles championship
and the duo have joined forces again this season to post a 10-3
record.
Both Portonova and Hojsack will look to defend their titles April 28-29 when the conference championships are held at Kirby Park.
First Team All-Freedom Conference
Player Team Yr. Hometown (High School)
Mike Portonova King’s Jr. Hazleton, PA (Bishop Hafey)
Kyle Ungvarsky Wilkes So. Horseheads, NY
(Horseheads)
Anthony Tunnero Drew Fr.
Flemington, NJ (St. Joseph)
Adam Geiger
FDU-Florham So. Mountainside, NJ (Governor Livingston)
Mike Byerly Lycoming Sr. West Milton, PA
(Lewisburg)
Alex Bruin FDU-Florham
Fr. Albuquerque, NM (Albuquerque Acad.)
Scott Melideo Scranton Fr. Dix Hills, NY (Half Hallow
Hills)
Second Team All-Freedom Conference
Player Team Yr. Hometown (High School)
Nick Hojsack King’s Jr. Kingston, PA (Wyoming Valley West)
Ross Lieblich Drew Sr. Hurley, NY
(Kingston)
Vikram Rao Drew Jr.
Staten Island, NY (Staten Island)
Jason
Woods Drew Jr. Deertrack Lane, NY (Irvington)
Jason Thalmann FDU-Florham Jr. Delmar, NY (Albany
Acad.)
Player of the Year: Mike Portonova, King’s
Rookie of
the Year: Anthony Tunnero, Drew
Coach of the Year: Jeff Brandes, Drew
