Recruit advances to USTA Nationals

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Incoming Bryant University men's tennis freshman Juan Gonzalez-Paz (San Juan, Puerto Rico) has qualified for the United States Tennis Associations Boys 18s & 16s National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The 2011 tournament will begin on August 5 on the campus of Western Michigan University.

Gonzalez-Paz joins fellow incoming rookie Zach Morris as head coach Ron Gendron's top two recruits, as both future Bulldogs rank near the top in the respective areas. Gonzalez-Paz, out of the Antonio Bonnet Tennis School, is rated as a three star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network, who ranks him as the top high school tennis player in Puerto Rico. Gonzalez won the 2010 USTA Caribbean Section Championship. He has won several additional tournaments this year at the Boys' 18 singles level including the Jr. Challenger V, Caribbean Jr. Sectional, Jr. Championship IV, and Jr. Challenger III. The USTA ranks Gonzalez as the top player in Puerto Rico in Boys' 18 singles and he has compiled a 31-6 record this year.

With more than 400 contestants on hand, the USTA 18s & 16s National Championship will be celebrating its 68^th year this August. The event, which has played hosts to the likes of John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras, rewards the 18s champion in singles and doubles with an automatic bid to the main draw for the U.S. Open tournament.