tennisrecruiting.net Release
Oberlin, Ohio - In addition to having the full nine-player roster back from this past season, the Oberlin College women's tennis team will be welcoming the addition of two of the nations' top recruits for the 2010-11 season as well.
Brenna Sheldon, a native of Sebastopol, California, will be joining the Yeowomen in the Fall of 2010 after committing to Oberlin a year ago before deciding to defer her admission and pursue an internship opportunity in South America. While there, she volunteered in a small Montessori School in Paraguay and worked with children. She also got to travel to Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia.
“As disappointed as I was this time last year when Brenna decided to defer, I'm equally excited now as we'll get to have her on the team for four years starting this Fall” remarked Head Coach
Constantine Ananiadis. “Brenna is not only a very solid player who I think will contribute immediately to our team, she also a great all-around fit for Oberlin and I think she'll contribute to our campus community on many levels.”
Ananiadis doesn't think that Sheldon's hiatus from the sport this past year will be of much detriment to her game. “I actually think the nine months off the court might have been the best for her game” Ananiadis continued. “She's training a lot this summer back at home, she's healthy, and has renewed enthusiasm for the game so I expect her to be ready to go come this September.”
Much like fellow Northern Californian and current No. 1 player and captain
Ariel Lewis, Sheldon was an outstanding junior player reaching three-star status on
tennisrecruiting.net and a high national ranking of 286 during her senior year. She was also always amongst the top players in her section (Northern California) reaching a high sectional ranking of 18 in December of 2008. During her sophomore year in high school, she also had the opportunity to spend time at the renowned Sanchez-Casal Tennis Academy in Spain where she was able to train alongside some of the world's best players and coaches.
The second addition to the team's roster will be coming to Ohio via Ft. Myers, Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Farah Leclercq, originally from Ocala, Florida, is joining the Yeowomen after spending her freshman year playing for FGCU. A four-star recruit on
tennisrecruiting.net and ranked as high as 135 nationally during her junior career, Leclercq is arguably one of the best recruits in school history and is one of the top 10 incoming players in all of Division III for the 2010-11 season.
“Farah is bringing a lot to the table in terms of experience at the national level as a junior player and experience playing Division I tennis” Ananiadis said. “She's also a very hard worker and someone who will be able to contribute immediately in both singles and doubles.” Ananiadis is familiar with Leclercq's game as he had the opportunity to work with her at a summer camp during the summer of 2008.
Leclercq was an outstanding student at Vanguard High School where she graduated as the class' Valedictorian as part of the school's International Baccalaureate program. She was also elected as the school's “Student of the Year” during her senior year for her work in IB Biology and was also a member of the National Honors Society. As a result of her academic achievements in high school, she received a Pre-Med Scholarship Award at FGCU.
“Farah is very serious about her academics and wants to pursue admission to the best possible medical school upon graduation” said Ananiadis. “That was one of the main reasons for her transferring to Oberlin as she knew that our pre-med program is second to none. She also saw the opportunities ahead as part of our women's tennis team so overall this was a perfect situation for her.”
In an article released on Monday,
tennisrecruiting.net ranks the Oberlin recruiting class as 25th in the nation. However, only Sheldon is considered as part of the class as transfer students don't get consideration. “It says a lot about Brenna's level that even by herself she can put us in the Top-25” said Ananiadis. “With Farah in there, this is easily a top-10 class, possibly a top-five. Regardless of the numbers, it is clear that our program is heading in the right direction and towards our goal of the program's first ever NCAC title! We took a huge first step forward last year when our very young team was able to maintain our spot as third in the conference and now with everyone back, plus the addition of Farah and Brenna we'll be setting our sights even higher.”
No other current NCAC foe made the top-25 list in this year's rankings, but future NCAC rival DePauw University figured in at No. 20. For the article and complete list
click here.
Fans will have their first opportunity to watch this talented team at work starting on September 17 when Oberlin plays host to the annual three-day OC Invite event.
