Unbeaten Caracappa Earns Landmark's AOTW Award
TOWSON, Md. — Joey Caracappa began his Goucher singles career by dropping just three games in his first two collegiate matches. After also picking up a pair of doubles victories, the freshman has been rewarded as the Landmark Conference’s Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week for September 15-21.
TOWSON, Md. — Joey Caracappa (Wesley Chapel, Fla./Saddlebrook Preparatory School) began his Goucher singles career by dropping just three games in his first two collegiate matches. After also picking up a pair of doubles victories, the freshman has been rewarded as the Landmark Conference's Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week for September 15-21.
Caracappa, playing at No. 2 singles, dispatched Penn St. Harrisburg's Victor Costa by a 6-0, 6-1 score last Wednesday. He had earlier earned a point at No. 1 doubles with Seth Hoesman (Ellicott City, Md./Howard), as the duo bested Costa and Chris Magee in a tight 9-7 affair.
Both points proved crucial, as Goucher edged out a 5-4 team win over the Nittany Lions, allowing the Gophers to register a season-opening victory for the first time since 2003-04. Goucher would finish that season with a final record of 15-4.
Caracappa continued his strong play in the Gophers' home opener against York on Saturday. He teamed with Hoesman for an 8-2 doubles triumph over Daniel Erk and Kaltrin Bullaj, and cruised past Jake Greenstein, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 2 singles. The Spartans, however, recorded a 6-3 team win to remain undefeated at 3-0 on the season.
This is Goucher's fourth Athlete of the Week award for men's tennis since the start of the 2013-14 season. Hoesman was recognized twice last season, while David Spivey also earned the accolade last fall.
Caracappa and the Gophers return to the court this weekend at the ITA Southeast Regional, beginning next Saturday in Fredericksburg, Va.