Head coach Greg Wyzykowski adds two to a Pirate squad that will return its top-six singles players
Sunshine State standout Thandy Kangwa and Anna Fajnorová sign on to join a Pirates program that has won 20 dual matches over the last two seasons
April 29, 2015
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -- Less than one week after closing the season with a victory at the BIG EAST Championship for the second consecutive year, the Seton Hall tennis team has finalized two additions for the 2015-16 campaign as head coach Greg Wyzykowski announced on Wednesday that Anna Fajnorová (Bratislava, Slovakia) and Thandiwe Kangwa (Fort Myers, Fla.) will enroll in the university and begin competing for the Pirates next fall.
"I expect Anna and Thandy to help us continue to build on the progress that we have made in recent years," said Wyzykowski. "Both are competitive, driven young ladies who have achieved at a high level, whether it has been athletically or academically. I know they will step in ready to help make us better in singles as well as doubles and continue the growth within the program."
The two newcomers will join a youthful squad that is now slated to boast five underclassmen next season. Fajnorová is a native Slovakian and product of the Sports High School, a specialized institution that features some of the top amateur athletes in the country. The school has produced nearly 40 Olympians over the last two decades, nearly one-quarter of which have competed on the tennis court.
Ranked among the top-10 nationally in her age group for each of the last two years, Fajnorová spent 2013 and 2014 competing exclusively in the premier national U18 tournaments where she captured three singles championships and advancing to the quarterfinals or beyond on 16 occasions.
Fajnorová was an equal force on the doubles court, contributing to nine title-winning runs and earning a berth in the semifinals or championship match in 20 different tournaments.
The Bratislava native has also reached the quarterfinals of a number of International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in both singles and doubles and also has experience in team competition as well, helping her squad to a fourth-place finish in the TC EMPIRE Trnava Women's Extraliga.
Kangwa will travel to South Orange to join The Hall after cementing herself as one of the top players in the talent-rich state of Florida. Born in Zambia, Kangwa hails from a decorated athletics family as her father and uncles represented the country as players and coaches in Davis Cup competition while her mother was a member of the national volleyball team.
In her own right, Thandiwe has built an impressive résumé both on and off the court that has earned her a host of accolades. As a freshman, she played her way into News-Press All-Area Tennis Player of the Year honors and repeated the feat as a sophomore; accumulating a 16-4 singles record as her team's top player en route to her second district title and appearance in the Class AAA semifinals in as many seasons.
That same year, Kangwa teamed with doubles partner Chandler Novoa to take home the Class AAA first doubles state championship -- the first for Fort Myers High School. Her combined dominance helped make her the first sophomore ever tabbed as the News-Press Female Athlete of the Year across all sports.
The 5-foot-9 Kangwa went on to earn All-Area Tennis Player of the Year a third time and earlier this month advanced to the finals of FHSAA Class AAA title matches in singles and doubles yet again.
"I am extremely pleased to be able to add Anna and Thandy to our program," added Wyzykowski. "Our team did a terrific job of playing through some inexperience and adversity this season and I am already excited for the prospects of next year as we look to take the next step in competing with the top programs in the BIG EAST and the region."
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/042915aaa.html
Sunshine State standout Thandy Kangwa and Anna Fajnorová sign on to join a Pirates program that has won 20 dual matches over the last two seasons
April 29, 2015
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -- Less than one week after closing the season with a victory at the BIG EAST Championship for the second consecutive year, the Seton Hall tennis team has finalized two additions for the 2015-16 campaign as head coach Greg Wyzykowski announced on Wednesday that Anna Fajnorová (Bratislava, Slovakia) and Thandiwe Kangwa (Fort Myers, Fla.) will enroll in the university and begin competing for the Pirates next fall.
"I expect Anna and Thandy to help us continue to build on the progress that we have made in recent years," said Wyzykowski. "Both are competitive, driven young ladies who have achieved at a high level, whether it has been athletically or academically. I know they will step in ready to help make us better in singles as well as doubles and continue the growth within the program."
The two newcomers will join a youthful squad that is now slated to boast five underclassmen next season. Fajnorová is a native Slovakian and product of the Sports High School, a specialized institution that features some of the top amateur athletes in the country. The school has produced nearly 40 Olympians over the last two decades, nearly one-quarter of which have competed on the tennis court.
Ranked among the top-10 nationally in her age group for each of the last two years, Fajnorová spent 2013 and 2014 competing exclusively in the premier national U18 tournaments where she captured three singles championships and advancing to the quarterfinals or beyond on 16 occasions.
Fajnorová was an equal force on the doubles court, contributing to nine title-winning runs and earning a berth in the semifinals or championship match in 20 different tournaments.
The Bratislava native has also reached the quarterfinals of a number of International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in both singles and doubles and also has experience in team competition as well, helping her squad to a fourth-place finish in the TC EMPIRE Trnava Women's Extraliga.
Kangwa will travel to South Orange to join The Hall after cementing herself as one of the top players in the talent-rich state of Florida. Born in Zambia, Kangwa hails from a decorated athletics family as her father and uncles represented the country as players and coaches in Davis Cup competition while her mother was a member of the national volleyball team.
In her own right, Thandiwe has built an impressive résumé both on and off the court that has earned her a host of accolades. As a freshman, she played her way into News-Press All-Area Tennis Player of the Year honors and repeated the feat as a sophomore; accumulating a 16-4 singles record as her team's top player en route to her second district title and appearance in the Class AAA semifinals in as many seasons.
That same year, Kangwa teamed with doubles partner Chandler Novoa to take home the Class AAA first doubles state championship -- the first for Fort Myers High School. Her combined dominance helped make her the first sophomore ever tabbed as the News-Press Female Athlete of the Year across all sports.
The 5-foot-9 Kangwa went on to earn All-Area Tennis Player of the Year a third time and earlier this month advanced to the finals of FHSAA Class AAA title matches in singles and doubles yet again.
"I am extremely pleased to be able to add Anna and Thandy to our program," added Wyzykowski. "Our team did a terrific job of playing through some inexperience and adversity this season and I am already excited for the prospects of next year as we look to take the next step in competing with the top programs in the BIG EAST and the region."
http://www.shupirates.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/042915aaa.html
