SALVO, ESMAIL EARN REGIONAL TENNIS RANKINGS
For Immediate Release: Monday, 8 December 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-For the first time in 11 years, The University of Texas-Pan American's men's tennis team has student-athletes who have earned individual regional rankings.

Junior Jeremy Salvo (Coquitlam, BC/Centennial Secondary) and sophomore Rehman Esmail (Coquitlam, BC/Dr. Charles Best Secondary/North Carolina State) have earned regional rankings.

Salvo is ranked 27th in singles in the December 4th Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division I South Central Region rankings, while the doubles team of Salvo and Esmail are tied for 15th in the South Central Region doubles rankings. Salvo and Esmail are the first Broncs to earn regional rankings since Michel Fabry was ranked 24th in singles and Fabry and Richard Mainella were ranked 24th in doubles during the 1992 season.

Salvo went 5-6 during the fall, and reached the round of 16 at the ITA South Central Championships in November. Salvo and Esmail combined to go 4-4 in the fall, and also reached the round of 16 at the ITA South Central Championships.

"I'm proud of Jeremy and Rehman, they worked hard in the fall, and it paid off for them," said UTPA Head Coach Eduardo Provencio. "They were ranked because they had good results in the fall against players from strong programs. Hopefully, they will pull everyone else along and raise the level of competition, and it will make the spring a very exciting season for us."

The Broncs, who were ranked 72nd nationally last April and tied for second in the Southland Conference standings last spring, will begin their spring season next month.

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