University Southern California Trojans
Trojans Sweep Pac-12 Honor Roll
May 11, 2012 | Men's Tennis
May 11, 2012
Already laden with hardware and trophies from three straight runs to NCAA titles, the top-ranked USC men's tennis team has made another powerful haul of honors with this year's sweep of the Pac-12 awards. USC boasts the 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year in senior Steve Johnson, who rides a 60-match singles win streak into his second straight selection as the conference's top player. Johnson also stands tall as a three-time member of the conference's best doubles pair, bringing home the 2012 Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year award with teammate Roberto Quiroz. What's more, USC has the Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year in freshman Yannick Hanfmann. And rounding out the sweep is now-five-time honoree Peter Smith, who has picked up his third straight conference coaching crown as he has been named Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year.
The honor roll extends deeper even for the Trojan corps of talent. Joining defending NCAA singles champ Steve Johnson on the All-Pac-12 First Team are two more Trojans. Senior Daniel Nguyen has upped his previous Honorable Mention and Second Team picks with a place on this year's First Team. So, too, has sophomore Ray Sarmiento, who has upgraded his freshman year's Second Team selection with a spot on the 2012 First Team. All three Trojans were key elements in USC's run to the 2011 NCAA title, and the trio are currently leading USC along a path to defend three straight national championship runs in this year's NCAA Tournament, which begins May 12.
This year, USC has the added reinforcements of a couple freshmen who also now find themselves as Pac-12 honorees. Yannick Hanfmann has that heralded spot as the Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year to go along with a place on the All-Pac-12 Second Team, while Roberto Quiroz is locked in with the Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year award with senior standout Steve Johnson.
Not to be left out of USC's complete lineup of Pac-12 honorees is now-two-time Pac-12 Honorable Mention recipient Emilio Gomez, who also was a crucial part of the Trojans' 2011 title as a freshman. Now a sophomore, Gomez is a mainstay in the Trojan ladder.
And the man who has put into place that complete lineup of All-Pac-12 talent, USC head coach Peter Smith, has his own place in the limelight. Smith has his Trojans toting a hefty 27-1 overall record into the 2012 NCAA Tournament, where USC is looking to notch a fourth straight national championship. This year, he shares his third straight conference honor with UCLA's Billy Martin to stand as 2012 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year. Smith has previously won the conference's Coach of the Year award in 2004, 1008, 2010 and 2011.
First Team
Steve Johnson, Sr., USC*
Nick Meister, RS Sr., UCLA*
Bradley Klahn, Sr., STAN
Kyle McMorrow, Jr., WASH
Ray Sarmiento, So., USC
Daniel Nguyen, Sr., USC
*Unanimous selection
Second Team
Clay Thompson, So., UCLA
Ben McLachlan, So., CAL
Ryan Thacher, Sr., STAN
Nick Andrews, Sr., CAL
Adrien Puget, So., UCLA^
Yannick Hanfmann, Fr., USC^
Slim Hamza, Fr., UTAH^
^Tied for final two slots
Honorable Mention
Emilio Gomez, So., USC
Marcos Giron, Fr., UCLA
Carlos Cueto, Sr., CAL
Robin Cambier, So., ORE
Dmytro Mamedov, Jr., UTAH
PAC-12 SINGLES PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Steve Johnson (USC)
Johnson went a perfect 20-0 in dual match singles competition this season, extending his NCAA record of consecutive singles victories to 60. He also clinched the championship for USC at the Pac-12 Championships in April with a three-set victory over UCLA senior Nick Meister. The reigning NCAA singles champion is the top-ranked singles player in the ITA rankings released May 8.
PAC-12 DOUBLES TEAM OF THE YEAR - Steve Johnson / Roberto Quiroz (USC)
Johnson and Quiroz went undefeated in doubles play this season, going 14-0 in dual matches and playing 13 of those matches as USC's top duo. The senior-freshman pairing is ranked second in the country by the ITA.
PAC-12 FRESHMAN/NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Yannick Hanfmann (USC)
Hanfmann finished the season with a 20-4 record in dual matches, including a 4-2 finish against Pac-12 singles opponents. He played much of his spring at the No. 5 spot, but saw time at Nos. 2-4 as well. The freshman is ranked 51st in the current ITA men's singles rankings.
PAC-12 CO-COACH OF THE YEAR - Peter Smith (USC) & Billy Martin (UCLA)
Smith led USC to a nearly perfect season (27-1 overall, 6-1 Pac-12) and a No. 1 national ranking for the entire 2012 campaign. The one team to spoil the Trojans' perfect record was UCLA, coached by Martin, as the Bruins upset their cross-town rivals in the final dual match of the regular season. UCLA (22-3 overall, 7-0 Pac-12) claimed the regular season Pac-12 title with a flawless conference record, while USC won the first-ever team championship at the Pac-12 Tennis Championships in Ojai, Calif.
