For Immediate Release: July 24, 2000
Contact: Derek Smolik, UT Pan American SID

UT Pan American Tennis Announces Signing of Houston Native Alex Cequea

EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Men’s Tennis Program announced on Monday the signing of Houston, native Alex Cequea to a national letter of intent for the 2000-01 academic year.

Cequea comes to UTPA after a strong career at Stratford High School in Houston.  Under the tutelage of Coach Rory Frazee Cequea was a regional qualifier three times and advanced to the Texas 5A State Tennis Championships once.  He had his best season as a senior, posting a 21-2 record in singles, playing at number one and going 19-4 in doubles at number one.  As a sophomore at SHS he advanced all the way to the state quarterfinals in singles.  He earned All-District honors four times and All-Region 5 honors three times.  He was also named team MVP his sophomore season.

“We’re excited to add Alex to our program,” said UTPA Head Coach Scott Howard.  “He has tremendous upside.  He’s only been playing for four years and his ranking has improved dramatically all four years.”

Cequea was also excited about joining the Bronc tennis program this coming season, saying “I enjoyed meeting the people on the team when I came to visit UTPA.  I liked Coach Howard’s plans for the future for the team.”

Cequea is the fifth recruit for the men’s tennis program to sign this spring.  The men’s team has signed four other players, Edinburg native Eric Propst, United Kingdom native Matt Gower, Weslaco native Brandon Meiners and Clarendon, Texas, native Kareem Abdullah to the squad.  The women’s team already signed three players, Franklin, Texas, native Eve Nickelson, Los Alamos, New Mexico, native Julie Fife and Jessica Brown, Sioux City, Iowa.