By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Four members of the Willamette University men's tennis team who helped the Bearcats achieve a 13-6 record this spring, including 11-1 in the Northwest Conference, have received 2011 All-NWC honors for their efforts, as determined by the NWC head coaches. The four Willamette athletes competed at the top four singles positions and also formed the Bearcats' top two doubles teams.

Michael Baumgartner (So., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) and Joshua Wong (So., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) were chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference for the second year in a row. Cody Ferguson (Jr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) was named to the Second Team, while Matthew Houser (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) received Honorable Mention.

So far this spring, Baumgartner has put together a 10-8 record in singles, including 8-4 against NWC opponents. He is 10-9 in doubles, with a 7-5 doubles mark when combined with Houser. Wong is 11-4 in singles and owns an 9-1 record against NWC foes.

Ferguson has contributed an 11-5 record in singles this year. He went 8-2 in singles during NWC regular season matches.

Last fall, Ferguson reached the finals of the USTA/ITA Small College Northwest Regional in singles and advanced to the quarterfinals with Wong in doubles. Wong and Houser both reached to the Round of 16 in singles.

Houser owns an 11-6 overall record in singles with a 9-2 record in the NWC. He has registered a record of 11-8 in doubles.

Baumgartner and Wong also earned First Team All-NWC recognition as freshmen in 2010. Wong finished the 2010 spring season with a 16-6 overall record in singles, while Baumgartner went 11-10. In doubles, Baumgartner achieved a 14-8 record.

Ferguson was chosen Second Team All-NWC during his freshman year in 2009. As a freshman he produced a 14-5 record in doubles, while going 10-9 in singles, with eight matches at #1 singles and seven matches at #2 singles.

Conor Holton-Burke of Whitman College was chosen 2011 NWC Men's Tennis Player of the Year. Scott Barnett from George Fox University was selected NWC Men's Tennis Sportsman of the Year. Jeff Northam of Whitman was named NWC Men's Tennis Coach of the Year.

In addition to Baumgartner and Wong, other First Team All-NWC selections were: Holton-Burke, Andrew La Cava, and Etienne Moshevich of Whitman, Mark Magdaong from Linfield College, Troy Zuroske from Pacific University, and Daniel Redfern of Whitworth University.

Overall, eight athletes were chosen for the First Team, with six more on the second game and four included on the Honorable Mention list.

This spring, Willamette took second place in the NWC standings and qualified for the NWC Tournament. The Bearcats defeated Whitworth in the semifinals of the tournament before losing to nationally-ranked Whitman (#22) in the finals.

Head Coach Toby Krauel is in his third season at Willamette. He has an overall dual match record of 36-23 (.610) and is 31-13 (.705) in regular season NWC matches.