COLUMBUS, Ohio– Peter Kobelt, a senior on the Ohio State men’s tennis team, earned a No. 3 ranking in the ITA men’s singles preseason standings, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Friday. Joining Kobelt in the singles poll is Chris Diaz (No. 69) and Hunter Callahan (No. 107). In doubles, Kobelt and Kevin Metka are tied for 32nd.
New Albany, Ohio, native Kobelt, who began the 2013 spring season ranked No. 1, finished the 2012-13 campaign with a 36-9 record, including a 20-5 record in dual competition. The two-time All-American was the 2012 ITA All-American Championships runner-up and USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Singles Champion.
A 2013 Second Team All-Big Ten recipient, Diaz posted a breakout freshman season for the Buckeyes in 2012-13 as his 32 (6 losses) singles wins was third best on the team. Diaz, a native of Hilliard, Ohio, was one of four Buckeyes with nine or more Big Ten Conference wins (9-0).
Playing mostly No. 5 (6-0) and No. 6 (8-3) singles during his sophomore season, Callahan, a Lower Gwynedd, Pa., native earned a 5-1 record in Big Ten singles play and 8-1 dual record in doubles in 2013.
In doubles play, Kobelt and Metka competed in seven total matches, posting a 6-1 record. Of those six wins, Kobelt and Metka were 3-0 in dual action and 3-1 in tournament play. The duo advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2012 USTA/ITA Midwest Regional in East Lansing, Mich. Metka, a junior, hails from Worthington, Ohio.
Along with the preseason rankings announcement, the ITA released the field for the 2013 ITA Men’s All-American Championships. Kobelt earned a spot in the main draw, while Diaz and Callahan will begin their runs in the qualifying bracket. Sophomore Constantin Christ, Metka, and freshmen Evan Bechtel and Marko Goles Babic will compete in prequalifying singles. Christ, a native of Eppstein, Germany, was a significant contributor at No. 6 singles for the Buckeyes, amassing a 16-3 dual record. Overall, Christ was 21-5, including 6-1 in the Big Ten during his freshman season.
Placed on the alternate list for main draw doubles, Kobelt and Metka are scheduled to begin the All-American championships doubles tournament in qualifiers.
2013 ITA Preseason Rankings
Singles
No. 3 Peter Kobelt
No. 69 Chris Diaz
No. 107 Hunter Callahan
Doubles
No. 32 (tied) Peter Kobelt and Kevin Metka
2013 ITA Men’s All-American Championships Singles and Doubles Fields
Main Draw Singles
Peter Kobelt
Qualifying Singles
Chris Diaz
Hunter Callahan
Prequalifying Singles
Constantin Christ
Kevin Metka
Evan Bechtel
Marko Goles Babic
Qualifying Doubles
Peter Kobelt and Kevin Metka
