Nov. 23, 2010

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s tennis head coach Bobby Bayliss recently announced the signing of three National Letters of Intent by incoming student-athletes to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Irish, beginning in the fall of 2011. The three signees are Dougie Barnard, Michael Fredericka and Wyatt McCoy.

Barnard currently attends Brebeuf Jesuit High School in Indianapolis, Ind. As a junior, Barnard won the Indiana High School Championship in singles.

“Dougie has already won an Indiana high school championship indicating his ability to play on a big stage,” Bayliss said. “He has been very well prepared for this level by PA. Nilhagen, who is one of the most respected junior coaches in the nation.”

Barnard has been ranked as high as No. 20 according to tennisrecruiting.net and was a quarterfinalist at the Midwest Closed Sectional Championships during the 2010 summer season.

“Dougie is a perfect fit for the University of Notre Dame,” associate head coach Ryan Sachire said. “Not only is Dougie a tremendous athlete and an elite student, but he is also a person who gives much of his time and energy to others. We are elated to have Dougie joining our program next year.”

Fredericka is a senior at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio, and has been playing No. 1 singles for his high school team since his freshman year. Year after year, Fredericka consistently ranks among the top 100 prospects, in his respective class according to tennisrecruiting.net.

“Michael has one of the better backhand shots in junior tennis and has improved dramatically in the last year,” Bayliss said. “I consider him to be one of the more impressive prospects that was overlooked in this year’s recruiting class.”

Like Barnard, Fredericka was a quarterfinalist at the 2010 Midwest Closed Sectional Championships and also a semifinalist at the Midwest Open Championships. In 2009, Fredericka was named to the second-team of the singles all-state Division II tennis team.

“Michael was a late addition to our recruiting class, and we feel like we got a tremendous steal late in the process,” Sachire said. “Michael has really come into his own in recent months, and if he keeps improving at the pace that he is currently on, he will be a major factor for our program moving forward.”

McCoy currently attends Mounds View High School in Shoreview, Minn., and the senior has been a top-ranked tennis player throughout his career, as he has been ranked as high as No. 2 (tennisrecruiting.net) nationally. He currently sits at the No. 4 spot according to the USTA rankings.

“Wyatt’s consistency throughout his junior career indicates that he will be a dependable player for us,” Bayliss said. “He has the ability to take the ball on the rise and create offense, without making unforced errors in the process. This will serve him well at the collegiate level.”

McCoy won the consolation draw at the 2010 USTA Spring National Championships, one of four major national tennis events each year in Mobile, Ala. While McCoy won the consolation draw, incidentally, current Irish freshman Greg Andrews (Richland, Mich./Gull Lake) won the event.

Additionally, McCoy played No. 1 singles for his Northern Section in the USTA National Team Championships and won three of his four singles matches.

“We are extremely excited about adding Wyatt to our program,” Sachire said. “Throughout his junior career, Wyatt has clearly established himself as one of the top-15 players in the country for his age, and we are convinced that he will make a tremendous impact at this level.”

Bayliss, Sachire and the Irish men’s tennis team open the 2011 dual season on January 22 when they travel to Williamsburg, Va. to battle William & Mary.

–ND–