Rockman, Rothstein Named to Academic All-MAC Men's Tennis Team

BUFFALO, NY – Two University at Buffalo men's tennis players have been named to the 2007 Academic All-Mid-American Conference team, the league announced from its headquarters in Cleveland. Senior Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornlea) and redshirt freshman Eric Rothstein (Phoenixville, PA/Great Valley) were selected by the league's faculty athletic representatives for their success in the classroom and on the tennis court.

Mike Rockman

Rockman a psychology major with a 3.615 grade point average, finished his four-year career as UB's all-time winningest singles player with 83 victories. In the just-completed 2006-07 season, Rockman tallied a 17-16 singles record and was 19-14 in doubles, primarily playing first singles and second doubles. Rockman advanced to the second round of the prestigious Intercollegiate Tennis Association's fall tournament in both singles and doubles play. Off the court, Rockman, a 2006 Academic All-MAC selection, served as UB's Student-Athlete Advisory Athletic Committee president and earned UB's Ideal Bull Distinguished Student-Athlete Leadership Award and the men's tennis team's Coaches' Award at the annual athletics banquet earlier in the week. He was one of three athletes to repeat from the 2006 list.

Eric Rothstein

Rothstein, a biomedical sciences major with a 3.920 grade point average, finished his first season with the Bulls with records of 5-13 in singles and 4-8 in doubles play. He saw most of his action in the sixth singles and third doubles spots and all five of his singles victories came in the fall tournament season. Rothstein had a three-set super-tiebreaker win over Boston University’s Hans Sapra at the Dartmouth Shootout as he posted a 2-1 singles record at the tournament. Rothstein also earned UB's Most Improved Player award at the season-ending athletics award banquet.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments from the current season only are considered. The Academic All-MAC team is voted on by the league's faculty athletic representatives. The total number of honorees is set for a specific sport or 33 percent of all nominees, whichever is greater. Due to ties, a total of nine men were named to the 2007 Men's Tennis Academic All-MAC team.