Senior Jay Weinacker traveled to College Station, Texas May 20 to participate in the Individual NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships. Weinacker finished his college career strong, defeating Marek Michalicka of Wisconsin in straight sets. He also earned All-American honors, becoming the first Wolfpack player to do so since 1999.
“It started out a little slow,” coach Jon Choboy said. “Jay was a little nervous. He didn’t play quite as well as he could have but that’s pretty normal.”
Weinacker came back from a 4-2 deficit to win 7-6 in a tiebreaker over Michalicka before dominating him 6-3 in the second set at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center at Texas A&M University.
“I got down 3-2 in the first set and I was still pretty nervous,” Weinacker said. “My stomach was in knots and I couldn’t hit out on the ball, making mistakes that I don’t normally make. I haven’t been that nervous since my first collage match.”
After Weinacker won his first round, he earned a spot in the round of 32 and defeated No. 54 Diego Cubas of South Carolina, 7-6 (1), 6-4.
With the victory, Weinacker became the first Wolfpack tennis player to reach the round of 16 since Roberto Bracone reached the round in 1999.
“I was just happy to be in that situation,” Weinacker said. “I had already reached my goal and basically anything after that was a bonus. Once I got into the match I really wanted to win, so it wasn’t about just being happy anymore.”
In the round of 16, Weinacker started off strong, winning the first set against to No. 9 Steven Moneke of Ohio State 6-4. Moneke took control of the second set, though, defeating Weinacker 6-1and sending the match to a third set. In a closely contested third set, Moneke broke Weinacker’s serve and won 6-4.
“I was really upset when the match was over,” Weinacker said. “I had lost it and realized that everything was finished. But I was really happy with the way the last match went.”
The loss ended Weinacker’s career for the Wolfpack with a record-setting 106 career singles wins. His opponent, Moneke, made it to the final round and lost in three sets.
Choboy said he could not be prouder of Weinacker’s performance.
“It speaks volumes for him,” Choboy said. “He’s holds the most wins for State and now he’s an All-American. He’s accomplished so much and he really was instrumental in helping us get done what we’ve done for the past four years.”
While etching his name all over the record books, Weinacker acquired All-ACC honors two years in a row.
“He’s a lot more than statistics,” Choboy said. He’s one of the best leaders, most unselfish kids I’ve ever had in my whole career. He’s given scholarship money back to get other players into the team, to make the team better—and he offered to do that. That’s something that really speaks a lot about who he is.”
According to Choboy, it was special to see Weinacker, who has always been more of a team player, go out with such high individual honors.
“To him, being successful as a team was more important then being successful as an individual,” Choboy said. “So because of that I think it is even more special that he gets to finish his career as an All-American individual. All that he has won for the team, I think, for him, to be able to finish like this is a dream ending for him.
