A Star Is Born In A Championship Season

Oct. 19, 2004

Kim Ling
Associate Athletics Media Relations Director

The 2003 football season appeared headed in the wrong direction when the Rebels started off 2-2 with losses to Memphis and Texas Tech. But, the Rebels went on the road to Gainesville and knocked off then No. 24 ranked Florida 20-17, a win that would define the season. The team went on to win six of their final seven games and clinch a share of the SEC Western Division Championship (with a 7-1 conference record), and the 2004 SBC Cotton Bowl.

For the men's tennis team, the spring 2004 championship season began with a defining moment of its own. It was the first round of the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor in Seattle, Wash., and the Rebels found themselves trailing the home-standing Washington Huskies 3-1. At that point, it was a total team effort between the freshmen, the seniors and the Rebels' top player, Catalin Gard, coming together for a Rebel victory.

The Rebel newcomers said hello to the college tennis world at the National Team Indoor in a resounding way. In the opening match, freshman Eric Claesson came up with a huge win in the Rebels' victory over the Huskies. The next day, freshman Fredrik Aarum posted a big win as the Rebels defeated eventual NCAA Champion, Baylor, to reach the final four at the National Team Indoor. Claesson and Aarum continued their success throughout the season, combining for a record of 15-4, an instrumental part in the Rebels capturing the SEC overall Championship.

In keeping with the total team effort, All-SEC seniors Claes Lindholm and Paul Ciorascu combined outstanding play and strong leadership at the National Team Indoor to set the tone for the season. Lindholm clinched the match against Washington, and Ciorascu registered one of his best wins in the team victory against Baylor.

It was the match with Washington that presented perhaps the most difficult assignment for the Rebels' Gard, as he faced Washington's Alex Vlaski, the No. 2 ranked player in the nation. Needing a win to keep the Rebels' hopes for victory alive, Gard prevailed in three sets to begin his climb to stardom. Ole Miss went undefeated from that point through the month of March. During that time the team had a season high ranking of No. 2 in the nation.

The final match of the regular season found the Rebels headed to Lexington to face Kentucky for the outright SEC Championship. Once again, outstanding freshman play, senior leadership and Gard's win over Jesse Witten (undefeated in the SEC), propelled Ole Miss to the win and the SEC Championship. The match also saw Karim Alayli and Juan Pablo Di Cesare posting key victories, making the championship a true team effort.

The Rebels SEC overall championship marked the third time in the last eight years they had ended the year as the top team in the conference. The Rebels concluded the season ranked No. 5 in the nation in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national rankings, making it the 10th time in the last 11 years to be among the final top 10, with five top five finishes.

In addition to winning the overall SEC Championship, the Rebels won the SEC Western Division for the third consecutive year and improved to 15-0 against the West since the league went to divisions in 2002.

"Winning the SEC is impressive, but it's even more so when you consider that all 12 conference schools made the NCAA Championships," head coach Billy Chadwick said.

The Rebels advanced to the SEC Tournament final and hosted an NCAA regional for the fifth time in six years. Earning its 11th straight NCAA appearance, Ole Miss posted a record of 21-5 (12-0 at home during the regular season), marking the program's sixth 20-win season.

"This team will be remembered as one of the best in the rich history of Ole Miss sports, winning our third straight SEC West Championship and being crowned the overall SEC Champion," Chadwick said.

Individually, head coach Billy Chadwick was named the SEC Coach of the Year, and All-American Catalin Gard was named the SEC Player of the Year. Three Rebels were named to the All-SEC team.

Gard, who went 10-1 in the SEC in 2004, became the third Rebel to nab the league's top honor. He ended the season ranked No. 4 in the nation, the highest ranked player in the SEC, and completed his transition from a very good college player to a great one, according to Chadwick.

Chadwick earned coach of the year honors for the second time in his outstanding career, as well as being named the ITA Southeast Region Coach of the Year and the USPTA Southern Division College Coach of the Year.

In addition to winning a championship on the court, the Rebels claimed top honors in the classroom as well. The Rebels took home the Chancellor's Cup for the highest team grade point average among all varsity men's sports at Ole Miss.

With the 2004 season in the books, the Rebels are preparing to defend the crown. Gard, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, looks to lead a young, talented team on another championship ride.

The senior All-American is off to a great start by capturing the 2004 Icy Hot/ITA All-American Championships, the first national championship of the year. This event is regarded as the top tournament in the fall and individually, is second only to the NCAA Championships.

Playing through a field of over 300 players from across the nation, the championship match showcased last season's SEC Player of the Year, Ole Miss' Gard, and the Pac-10 Player of the Year, Stanford's Sam Warburg. Gard prevailed 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 for the championship, making it the third individual national title for the Rebel netters.

Gard wants to finish his collegiate career with another SEC Championship and lead the Rebels to a run at the NCAA Team Championship. With one national title already, this could be a year to remember for the Rebels.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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