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<h1 align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – April 30, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor MT Collects Multiple All-Big 12 Honors Including Newcomer of the Year<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Bears earn Newcomer of the Year and spots on all-conference singles and doubles<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">For more information contact:
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720,
</span><a href="mailto:josie_hutton@baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">josie_hutton@baylor.edu</span></a><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:blue"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">IRVING, Texas –</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> Baylor men’s tennis was honored with five All-Big 12 honors, including Newcomer
of the Year, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Graduate transfer Alexandru Chirita was named the 2025 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, becoming the first Bear to win the award since Charlie Broom in 2021. Additionally, Devin
Badenhorst and Zsombor Velcz were named on the First Team Singles list, both earning first team honors in their careers. On the First Team Doubles, the duos of Oskar Brostrom Poulsen/Marko Miladinovic and Badenhorst/Luc Koenig earned spots.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Joining the Bears in January, Chirita posted a 15-5 record in singles in the spring, including one ranked win. The Romanian competed primarily on Courts Four and Five. Chirita
secured an 8-4 record on Court Four and dominant 6-1 record on Court Five. In doubles, the graduate went 10-6 and found success with Velcz on Court Three going 6-4. Chirita finished the spring going 5-1 in doubles heading into the postseason.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Badenhorst led for the Bears all season, competing on Court One for the entire spring. The All-Big 12 First Team honor comes from Badenhorst’s 22-16 overall record with a 12-12
record in dual matches. The South African sophomore went 6-9 against nationally ranked players this spring as he himself maintained a career-high ranking of 25<sup>th</sup> in the nation.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Velcz achieved a perfect 6-0 record in conference play this season to tab his opening First Team honor in his career. The junior holds a 24-12 overall record for the season
and 14-7 record in dual matches this spring. Velcz was a staple for the Bears on Court Three with a dominant 11-4 record. In the final swing of the regular season, the Hungarian went on a tear with an 11-match win streak to carry the Bears into the postseason.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">In doubles, the duo of Brostrom Poulsen and Miladinovic showed not only success on Court One but leadership from the two senior captains. Playing together all year, the two
began the year as the 2024 ITA Summer Nationals Doubles Champions. Carrying their success over from the summer, the pair went 13-12 in dual matches, facing off against nationally ranked doubles team in nearly half of their matches. In conference play, the
senior duo went 5-3 to help lead the Bears. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Childhood best friends and doubles partners, Badenhorst and Koenig know how to find success on and off the court. Playing together for the second year in a row, the two dominated
Court Two with a 13-5 record. The South African duo won five straight matches to kickstart the spring season and carried their momentum all the way through.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">All the All-Big 12 honors mark as a first for all five Bears recognized.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Baylor begins the NCAA Championship tournament with their 27th-straight bid on Saturday morning at 10 am CT in College Station against No. 40 Nebraska. The match will be streamed
at <a href="https://web.playsight.com/facility/texas-am/schedule">12thman.com</a> and live stats will be available
<a href="http://statb.us/b/589508">online</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">For the latest news on the Baylor men's tennis team, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorMTennis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="http://www.baylorbears/"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">- BaylorBears</span></i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">.com</span></i></span><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">
-<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Big 12 Men’s Tennis Yearly Awards<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Player of the Year- Colton Smith, Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Freshman of the Year- Cooper Woestendick, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Newcomer of the Year- Alexandru Chirita, Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Scholar-Athlete of the Year- Jay Friend, Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Coach of the Year- David Roditi, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">All-Big 12 First Team Singles<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Jay Friend, Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Colton Smith, Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Bor Artnak, Arizona State<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Devin Badenhorst, Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Zsombor Velcz, Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Mehdi Benchakroun, UCF<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Yassine Dlimi, UCF<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Isaac Becroft, Oklahoma State<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Lui Maxted, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Jack Pinnington, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Pedro Vives, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Cooper Woestendick, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">All-Big 12 First Team Doubles<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Jay Friend/Eric Padgham, Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Colton Smith/Inaki Cabrera, Arizona<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Devin Badenhorst/Luc Koenig, Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Oskar Brostrom-Poulsen/Marko Miladinovic, Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Lui Maxted/Pedro Vives, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Jack Pinnington/Cooper Woestendick, TCU<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode:both"><b><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#0F5C1A">Josie Hutton</span></b><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black"> | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (FB, T&F/XC, MTEN) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode:both"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode:both"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">C: (254) 709-7720<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode:both"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode:both"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:blue"><a href="http://www.baylorbears.com/" title=""Original URL:
http://www.baylorbears.com/
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