TCU Women’s Basketball makes history with undefeated nonconference stint

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 22, 2023) In a historic feat for TCU Women's Basketball, the team has closed out their nonconference schedule with an undefeated record for the first time in program history. The Frogs delivered a masterclass in both offensive and defensive prowess, capping off this achievement with an emphatic 87-34 victory over Mount St. Mary's.

The defensive showcase was the highlight of the game, as TCU stifled the Mountaineers to a mere 22 percent shooting from the field and a paltry 19.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Frogs exhibited remarkable discipline, committing only three fouls collectively throughout the entire game.

The rebounding battle further underscored TCU's dominance, with the Frogs securing 49 rebounds compared to the Mountaineers' 26. TCU wasted no time asserting their dominance, outscoring Mount St. Mary's 23-5 in a commanding first quarter.

The second quarter witnessed the Frogs extending their lead to 40-14 by halftime, as the Mountaineers struggled to find their footing. TCU continued to tighten their defensive grip in the third quarter, allowing Mount St. Mary's a mere three points while racking up an impressive 31 points of their own.

Leading the charge for the Frogs was Sedona Prince, securing her second consecutive double-double with 22 points on over 80 percent shooting, 15 rebounds, and six assists. Prince's defensive impact was equally noteworthy, contributing three blocks and a steal without committing a single personal foul.

Agnes Emma-Nnopu joined Prince in the double-double club, adding 15 points, ten rebounds, and two crucial blocks. Madison Conner showcased her scoring prowess with 21 points, complemented by three assists and three rebounds. Aaliyah Roberson rounded out the double-figure scorers, contributing 10 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.

ESPN Events and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment Cancel Mercari Texas Bowl

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved 

HOUSTON, TEXAS (December 29, 2020) ESPN Events and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment announced earlier today that due to an increased number of positive COVID-19 tests and other circumstances within the TCU football program, the 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl has been canceled.

“While we are disappointed in canceling this year’s game, we look forward to hosting both the Texas Kickoff and Texas Bowl next season,” said David Fletcher, executive director. “We appreciate everyone’s support, including our new title sponsor, Mercari.”

The 2020 edition, slated for December 31, was scheduled with the TCU Horned Frogs (6-4, 5-4 Big 12) facing the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-7, 3-7, SEC).

Mercari Texas Bowl to feature Arkansas vs. TCU

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved 

HOUSTON, TEXAS (December 25, 2020) The 15th edition of the Texas Bowl will be held Thursday, December 31, 2020, with a new title sponsor. Mercari, a Japanese e-commerce company founded in February 2013 and currently operating in Japan and the United States, has signed on as the title sponsor of the game.

The New Year's Eve matchup will feature the Arkansas Razorbacks, representing the SEC and the TCU Horned Frogs, representing the Big 12. The former Southwest Conference foes have met 70 times previously, with Arkansas holding a 44–24–2 series lead, though this will be their first postseason meeting. The two teams last met in 2016 and 2017, as part of a home-and-home series, with each team winning their respective away contest.

Arkansas enters the game with a 3–7 record, having played an all-SEC schedule, under first-year head coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks are appearing in their first bowl game since the 2016 Belk Bowl. They are making their second Texas Bowl appearance, with the first coming in a win over Texas in 2014.

TCU enters the game with a 6–4 record, 5–4 in conference play, under 20th-year head coach Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs are appearing in their first bowl game since the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl. They are making their second Texas Bowl appearance, with the first coming in a win over Houston in 2007.

HBU Huskies fall to TCU 69-45 in season opener

Photo courtesy of
Blinn College Athletic Department
Media Relations
Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (November 25,  2020) The HBU Huskies got off to a slow start and could not catch up to the TCU Horned Frogs late in the game; dropping their first game of the 2020-2021 season by the score of 69-45 at Schollmaier Arena. The Horned Frog jumped out to a 15-0 lead at the 13:58 mark of the first half before the Huskies could get on the scoreboard with a Zach Iyeyemi layup. From that point on, HBU battled the Horned Frogs tooth-and-nail, but it was not enough to overcome the early TCU lead.

HBU was led by Blinn Junior College transfer Pedro Castro (shown right), who shot 5-of-13 from the field, including one three-pointer, for 13 points. He also pulled down 10 rebounds for his first double-double as a Husky. Hunter Janacek also scored in double figures with 10 points.

The Huskies were 18-of-56 from the field, for 32% and were 6-of-7 from the free throw line. SMU, on the other hand, were 28-of-61 from the field for 46%.

SMU will next take to the road to face Tulsa in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Hall of Fame Classic. The Huskies will travel to Tempe, Arizona to take on No. 18 Arizona State on Sunday, November 29.

HBU Huskies to face TCU Horned Frogs in first game of college basketball season for both schools

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 24, 2020) The HBU Huskies men's basketball team kicks off their 2020-2021 season with a Wednesday, November 25 meeting against the TCU Horned Frogs at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST. The Huskies, who are led by head coach Ron Cottrell, are returned seven lettermen from the 2019-2020, where they posted a 4-25 record, along with a 4-16 mark in Southland Conference play.

TCU comes into the game with a 16-16 record last season, finishing in seventh place in the Big 12 Conference. The Huskies and Horned Frogs have faced off seven times previously, with TCU coming out on top in six of those games; including a 90-63 win on November 19, 2017 in Fort Worth.

The game will be televised on the Big 12 Now channel on ESPN+.  Audio can be heard on the Husky Sports Network ar  HBUHuskies.com/Husky Sports Network with Lonnie King behind the microphone. Live game stats can be followed at  GoFrogs.com.

TCU downs Houston 10-6 at Minute Maid Park

Photo to Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 1, 2019) Houston erupted for five runs late in the game, but is was not enough to overcome the TCU's early lead, as the Horned Frogs down the Cougars 10-6 in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park.

The Horned Frogs tallied three runs in the first, fourth, and seventh innings and added a single run in the eighth. Catcher Alex Isola was 3-for-4 with three runs, and three RBI. First baseman Jake Guenther was 2-for-4, along with scoring two runs and one RBI.

For the Cougars, third baseman Jared Triolo was 2-for-5 with one run and two RBI. Starting pitcher Tyler Bielamowich; seeing 3.1 innings, receiving the loss, while Nick Lodolo went seven innings, giving up two hits and one run. 

TCU will next face Texas A&M on Saturday with a 7 p.m. CST first pitch. Houston will take on Texas State in the first game on Saturday with an 11 a.m. start.

HBU Huskies down ULM 4-1 in beach volleyball action

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 24, 2018) The HBU Huskies kicked off the 2018 NCAA beach volleyball season at the Horned Frog Challenge on the beach volleyball courts adjacent to the University Recreation Center on the campus of TCU on Saturday, February 24, 2018. In their second match of the day, the Huskies downed the University of Louisiana Monroe by the score of 4-1.

The number 4 doubles team of Danielle Wheeler and Brennan Miller downed Bailey Smith and Allie Kemp 21-15, 21-17 to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. HBU made the score 2-0 when Megan Carter and Kali Fluke (number 5 doubles) beat Holland Ponithieux and McKenna Webster 17-21, 23-21, 15-10. The number 1 doubles duo of Jessica Wooten and Aeriel Horton made the score 3-0 with a 21-19, 21-11 win over Gabby Love and Maile Sellers.

ULM took the fourth match (number 3 doubles) when Catherine Griffith and Rebecca Brown downed HBU's Bailey Banks and Katya Silveria in a close match 21-19, 26-24, taking the score to HBU 3, ULM 1. In the final match, Kayla Armer and Tori Hinojosa downed Grace Convey and Kayla Gailant 21-19, 21-18. 

Earlier in the day, HBU fell to No. 13 TCU 4-1. The Huskies next match will be against the New Orleans Privateers in the New Orleans Invitational om March 3-4.

Arizona State Sun Devil pitchers strike out 10 but fall to TCU Horned Frogs 3-0

Photo by Mike Stockman

By Mike Stockman
Staff Correspondent 

PHOENIX, ARIZONA (February 20, 2015) The No. 8 ranked Arizona State University Sun Devils were unable to score against the No. 1 ranked Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, losing 3-0 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday, February 20, 2015. 

The Sun Devils pitching staff are averaging almost ten strike outs per game this year.

The Horned Frogs were aggressive with stealing base attempts. Before this game, they were second in the Big 12 with 8 stolen bases. They had 8 attempts, scoring one, but were either thrown or tagged out by Sun Devil catcher Brian Serven on three of the eight attempts.

When asked how to slow down the Horned Frogs aggressive base stealing in the post-game interview, Coach Tracy Smith responded “We’ve got to fight to not over-analyze”.  “They’re going to be aggressive, I thought Serven did a pretty good job. Obviously we want to hold guys close, but it wasn’t like they walked all over us.”

The Sun Devils host the Horned Frogs for two more games this weekend. Game times are Saturday,  February 21  at 1:00 P.M. AZ time and Sunday, February 22 at 12:30 P.M. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Houston women fall to TCU, 60-51

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications 

FT. WORTH, TEXAS (December 2, 2012)  The Houston Cougars women could not extend their four-game winning streak when they

faced a stubborn TCU squad, falling to the Horned Frogs 60-51 on Sunday 

afternoon at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Ft. Worth.

The Cougars jumped out to an early lead in the first two minutes of the game and after that,

it was all TCU.

The Cougars did get within two points early in the second half, but TCU kept up 

the pressure to drop the Cougars to 4-5 for the season.

TCU raised its record to 3-2 with the win.

Senior guard Porsche Landry continued her domination on the court with 17 points, 

six assists and five rebounds.

Freshman forward Marche' Amerson contributed with 12 points and six rebounds.

Yazmeen Thompson led Houston with nine rebounds, while Te’onna Campbell 

added eight and Alecia Smith with seven.

The Cougars shot 29% from the field and 47% from the free throw line.

Natalie Ventress led TCU with 17 points, followed by Veja Hamilton with 10.

The Cougars will next face Creighton next Saturday with a 2:00 pm tip-off.

The game will be the first of a double-header with the Cougars men’s team playing in second game against Texas Southern University.

TCU Men, Women Lead After Day 1 of UIW Christmas Invitational

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (December 17, 2011) The TCU men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams lead the field after the first day of competition at the University of the Incarnate Word Christmas Invitational at the Palo Alto College natatorium.

The TCU men and women combined for six wins to highlight the first day’s competition.

The Horned Flogs men’s 400-yard medley relay consisting of Laszlo Gyurko, Edgar Crespo, Luiz Azarias and Devin Price won the final event of the evening with a time of 3:19.98.

Gyurko also took top honors in the 100-yard butterfly with the time of 48.59.

Azarias and Friedrich Grott also scored in the event placing sixth and eighth, respectively.

Sebastian Arispe also won the gold for the Horned Frogs with his 4:26.61 in the 500-yard freestyle. It was his first win in his career for TCU.

Michael Franz, Cooper Robinson and Ross Van Allen also finished in the top 8 and scored points in the event.

The final win for the TCU men was Ricky Bradley’s victory in the 3-meter diving with a personal best score of 305.90.

Freshman Victoria Thicke-Rattray won the 200-yard individual medley for the women followed closely by teammate Ali Bleasdell for the one-two finish.

Katie Lybbert also scored on the boards, winning the 1-meter diving event with the score of 252.85.

The Horned Frogs finished the day leading both divisions, with the men tallying 668 points while the women scored 591 points.

In the men’s division, TCU was followed by Missouri State (627.5), University of the Incarnate Word (517.5), and Utah (333).

The TCU women were followed by Rice (511), Missouri State (398.5), Utah (335.5), University of the Incarnate Word (284) and North Texas (76).

BORELLI NAMED TCU WOMEN’S TENNIS HEAD COACH

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (July 21, 2010) Dave Borelli has been named the new head coach of the TCU women’s tennis program, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Del Conte announced Wednesday. Borelli, who has spent the last four seasons as coach of the TCU men’s team, will move back to exclusively coaching the Frog women, a role he previously held for four years from 2002 through 2006.

A national search has begun for Borelli’s replacement as head coach of the TCU
men’s program.

“I am excited about the opportunity for a return to coaching the women’s team,” Borelli said. “While it is hard to leave the men’s program, I feel that team is in a much better situation than when I took over in 2006. I think the program is on solid ground and has an opportunity to feature its best team in several years
this upcoming season.

“I really believe we can build a national-championship contender in the TCU women’s tennis program.”

Borelli will be returning to the role that saw him already log a distinguished career by the time he took over the reigns of the Frog men’s program. He owns a 374-75 record in 18 seasons as a women’s head coach, including a 72-30 mark in four seasons with TCU from 2002 through 2006. Accomplishments in the world of women’s tennis have earned him a spot in the Intercollegiate Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame. He will become only the third male coach ever enshrined by the organization Nov. 13 in Williamsburg, Va.

"Dave is a Hall of Fame coach and a great fit at TCU," Del Conte said. "He has been an ambassador for our tennis programs.

"We achieved tremendous success with Dave previously at the helm of our women's team. We share his vision and high expectations for the program."

Borelli improved the final national ranking of the TCU women’s team in each of his last three seasons and led the squad to its most successful season in program history with a No. 15 rating and NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2005-06, his final season as head coach. He earned three major awards in his final two seasons, including Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southwest Region Coach of the Year in 2005 and conference coach of the year in 2005 (Conference USA) and
2006 (Mountain West Conference).

A 1974 graduate of USC, Borelli began his career as women’s head coach for the Trojans, going 302-45 with seven national championships from 1974 through 1988. USC players combined to win five individual national championships in singles and one in doubles under his guidance, and he was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1981.

Borelli, whose overall career record stands at 428-120 in 21 seasons, recently completed his fourth season with the TCU men by leading the squad to the Mountain West Conference tournament championship and the team’s 19th NCAA tournament appearance in the last 20 years. The Frog men totaled four MWC titles overall (two regular season, two tournament) under Borelli’s tutelage.

Prior to arriving at TCU, Borelli served as the men's professional tour coach for the USTA. He was in charge of the rookie pro program for USA player development.

Houston College Classic Kicks Off At Minute Maid Park

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2010 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 5, 2010) On Friday, March 5, the 10th annual Houston College Classic kicks off at Minute Maid Park.

The Classic will feature three days of games, with three games being played each day.

TCU and Texas Tech will play at noon in the first game on Friday, followed by Houston and Missouri at 3:30 p.m. Rice will face Texas at 7:00 p.m. in the nightcap.

Saturday will see Missouri and TCU at noon, followed by the Houston-Texas game at 3:30 p.m. and Rice-Texas Tech at 7:00 p.m.

Missouri and Texas will play at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, with Texas Tech playing Houston at 2:30 p.m. and TCU and Rice at 6:00 p.m.

Let’s look at the teams involved in the Houston College Classic.

HOUSTON COUGARS

The Houston Cougars will be making their ninth appearance in the Houston College Classic. They have a 10-17 record in the Classic.

Last season they had a 27-31 record, while posting a 13-11 record in Conference USA.

They were eliminated from the Conference USA Championship, falling to the Rice Owls, 7-2.

The Houston Cougars bring a 2-5 overall record into this weekend's Houston College Classic. The Cougars suffered an 8-2 setback against crosstown rival Rice on Tuesday evening at Reckling Park and have now dropped their last two games.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will be making their sixth appearance in the tournament, bring a 5-10 record in Classic action.

Texas Tech was part of the inaugural college classic back in 2001 and coincidentally played TCU in the first game of that tournament (a 5-4 win over the Frogs).

The Red Raiders returned to the classic again in 2002 but then began alternating every other year with Texas.

Last year, they sported a 25-32 record including a 12-15 posting in the Big 12 Conference,

Their 2009 season came to an end as Texas A&M scored nine runs in the first three innings and went on to notch an 11-4 win over the Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament.

Currently, the Red Raiders are 9-2 on the 2010 season.

RICE OWLS

The Rice Owls will be making their 10th appearance in the Classic, posting a 20-7 record in the tournament.

Last season, Rice won the Conference USA tournament and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional, eventually losing to LSU. They posted a 43-18 season record.

The No. 9 Owls got off to a slow start to the 2010 season but have rebounded by winning their last five games and stand at 5-4 on the year.

The Owls won a pair of mid-week games against cross-town rival Houston (8-2) on Tuesday and a 5-0 shutout at Texas State on Wednesday night.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

The Texas Longhorns bring a 7-8 record in five appearencs at the Classic.

Last season, Texas lost the NCAA championships to LSU while posting a 50-16-1 season record and a 17-9-1 record in Big 12 action.

The Longhorns are 6-2 this season, having swept Stanford last weekend.

TCU HORNED FROGS

The TCU Horned Frogs are 5-4 in three Classic appearances.

The 2009 Horned Frogs came up short in their bid for a trip to Omaha with a 5-2 loss to Texas. They finish the year with a 40-18 record.

They bring a No. 7 national ranking and a 6-1 record into the tournament.

The Frogs held off UTSA 17-12 on Tuesday night in Fort Worth just two days after claiming a three-game series win at No. 6 Cal-State Fullerton.

MISSOURI TIGERS

Missouri will be making its first appearance in the Classic.

Last season, Mizzou saw its season come to an end after an 11-6 loss to Western Kentucky in the NCAA Oxford Regional.

They finished the season with a 35-27 record with a 16-11 record in Big 12 play.

Currently they are 4-2, including two wins in the Auburn Invitational Tournament.

SCHEDULE

The overall schedule for the Houston College Classic is as follows:

Friday, March 5, 2010
12 noon: TCU-Texas Tech
3:30pm: Houston-Missouri
7:00pm: Rice-Texas

Saturday, March 6, 2010
12 noon: Missouri-TCU
3:30pm: Texas-Houston
7:00pm: Rice-Texas Tech

Sunday, March 7, 2010
11:00am: Missouri-Texas
2:30pm: Texas Tech-Houston
6:00pm: TCU-Rice

All home teams are listed second.

TCU WIN SETS UP SHOWDOWN WITH NO. 6 BAYLOR

WACO, TEXAS (Janaury 31, 2010) The 38th-ranked TCU men’s tennis team opened its competition at ITA Kick-Off Weekend Sunday with an easy 4-0 win over No. 66 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the Baylor Tennis Center. The Frogs persevered through temperatures dipping into the mid-30’s to run their season record to 3-0.

The victory sets up a Monday afternoon showdown between the Frogs and sixth-rated Baylor for the right to become one of 15 teams to advance to play in the ITA National Indoor Championships Feb. 12-15 in Charlottesville, Va. Monday’s match against the Bears has been scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Baylor Tennis Center, weather permitting.

The Frogs, who had their full roster available for the first time this season, began the afternoon by sweeping the doubles point against the Islanders before taking the first three singles decisions to conclude the match.

TCU jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after claiming the doubles point. Junior Zach
Nichols and sophomore Paul Chappell, playing at the No. 3 position, earned a
quick 8-3 victory over Andrew Maingot and Nathan Robinson before sophomore Slah
Mbarek and freshman Sören Goritzka clinched the team point with an 8-6 decision
against Duje Janjic and Robert Raguz.

The following singles competition flew by just as quickly, with TCU taking
matches at Nos. 3, 5 and 6 singles in straight sets. Junior Christopher Price
put an end to the afternoon, clinching the Frogs’ team victory with a dominating
6-0, 6-0 decision over Maingot at the No. 6 spot. Mbarek, slotted at No. 3
singles against Alex Pavlov, and Nichols, who faced Robinson at the fifth
position, posted respective victories of 6-1, 6-3 and 6-1, 6-2.

Two players, junior Emanuel Brighiu and Goritzka, made their season debuts for
TCU after having sat out last Sunday’s opening matches. Brighiu, slotted in the
No. 2 singles position, and Gortizka, positioned at No. 4, both had their
singles matches go unfinished after the team victory had already been clinched.
Brighiu’s match with Price at No. 1 doubles also went unfinished, as did that of
the Frogs’ top singles player, freshman Marius Cirstea.

TCU improved to 6-1 all-time against the Islanders with Sunday’s win.

“I was really happy with the way our guys competed, because it was so cold out
and the ball was so heavy today,” head coach Dave Borelli said. “It was good to
get (Emanuel) Brighiu and Soren (Goritzka) out there for us, with both battling
through recent injuries.

“I think we are pretty solid right now, but we will be better. It’s tough to
tell on a day like this because conditions were so bad. Our guys are very good
competitors. We are solid 1-through-6 and mentally strong. That’s something
that’s important for a team to have. I think the guys did a great job today.”

Monday’s match with Baylor can be tracked live on the Internet, as real-time
results will be available on-line through BU’s official athletics web site,
BaylorBears.com.


Results
No. 38 TCU 4, No. 66 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Jan. 31, 2010
Baylor, Texas (Baylor Tennis Center)

Doubles
1. E. Brighiu/C. Price (TCU) vs. D. Novikov/J. Langford (TAMU-CC) unfinished
2. S. Goritzka/S. Mbarek (TCU) def. D. Janjic/R. Raguz (TAMU-CC) 8-6
3. Z. Nichols/P. Chappell (TCU) def. A. Maingot/N. Robinson (TAMU-CC) 8-3

Singles
1. Marius Cirstea (TCU) vs. Dmitry Novikov (TAMU-CC) unfinished
2. Emanuel Brighiu (TCU) vs. James Langford (TAMU-CC) unfinished
3. Slah Mbarek (TCU) def. Alex Pavlov (TAMU-CC) 6-1, 6-3
4. Sören Goritzka (TCU) vs. Robert Raguz (TAMU-CC) unfinished
5. Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Nathan Robinson (TAMU-CC) 6-1, 6-2
6. Christopher Price (TCU) def. Andrew Maingot (TAMU-CC) 6-0, 6-0*-clinched team
win

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,5,3)

Frogs Split Home Opener Against Wyoming

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (November 22, 2009) – The TCU swimming and diving programs earned a split against Wyoming Saturday, as the men picked up their third win, 180-114, while the women fell, 182-118.

"It was good to see our men remain undefeated," TCU head coach Richard Sybesma
said. "This puts us in good shape within the conference and I saw some good
things from our women today as well."

TCU’s men’s squad dominated the Cowboys, garnering victories in 13 of the 16
events. The Frogs were led by sophomores Edgar Crespo and Laszlo Gyurko, as each
tallied four wins, including a pair of relay victories.

After spending the week in Sucre, Boliva, representing his native country of
Panama at the 2009 Bolivarian Games, Crespo swept the breaststroke events,
clocking in with a time of 55.84 in the 100-breast, while pacing the field with
a lifetime-best clocking in the 200-breast at 2:02.55. His 100-breast time
serves as the third-best in TCU history. The Panama City native has failed to
lose a race this season, improving to 14-0 for the season with nine relay
medals.

Gyurko took a pair of freestyle events, claiming the 100-free (46.03) and the
200-free (1:41.44). Gyurko has yet to fall in the 200-free this season. Senior
Josh Bagby led the way in the 50-free, picking up his third win of the year with
a time of 21.07. Sophomore Friedrich Grott won the 200-fly for TCU with a time
of 1:52.58.

Juniors Edgar Peyro and Jeff Gettel didn’t get left out, each claiming wins
Friday. Gettel continued his supremacy in the backstroke events, earning a
100-back win with his personal-best time of 50.17, while also garnering the
200-back title in 1:49.96. Peyro ripped ahead of the pack in the 100-fly with a
career-best time of 50.43.

Junior diver Kyle Callens also resumed his reign from the sky, sweeping the
springboard events. Coming off his second Mountain West Conference Male Diver of
the Week performance in San Diego, Callens besting both of his season-opening
scores Friday with a score of 336.07 on the one-meter, followed by a remarkable
362.85 mark from the three-meter dive. His three-meter output sits as his best
performance from that height and ranks second all-time in Horned Frog history,
while his one-meter dive lists as the third-best score for TCU.

TCU’s relay squads served as perfect bookends to the afternoon, swimming the
fastest times of the year. To start the meet, the team of Gyurko, Crespo, Peyro
and Bagby torched through the 200-medley relay (1:31.56), while Crespo, freshman
Devin Price, Gyurko and Bagby rounded out the evening with a 3:05.91 timing in
the 400-free relay.

On the women’s side, senior Stephanie Futscher maintained her dominance in the
200-fly, leading the way with a time of 2:05.57. After setting the TCU record
for the 200-fly at the 2009 MWC Championships, the Irving, Texas product has
gotten off to a 4-0 in the event to start the season.

Sophomore Ashley Bolin stole the 200-free event with her season-best time of
1:52.09. Junior Brittney Martinez followed suit with a win in the 200-back,
tapping in at 2:05.91. Junior Maria Paula Alvarez wrapped up the winning for the
women in the 500-free, finishing with a time of 5:03.60. Alvarez also took
runner-up honors in the 1000-free at 10:25.81.

Other strong performances came from senior Jennifer Ferguson, sophomore Jennifer
Oster and freshman Ali Berry. Ferguson garnered a runner-up finish in the
three-meter diver (286.57), while Oster took silver honors in the 100-fly
(57.56) and 100-back (58.45). Berry, a Houston product, took home second-place
recognition in the 500-free (5:04.32) and third-place accolades in the 200-free
at 1:52.75.

The Frogs will now prepare to send members to the U.S. Short Course National
Championships in Federal Way, Wash., Dec. 3-6, while the divers will make a trip
to Austin, Texas for the Texas Invitational.

H2O Frogs Release 2009-10 Schedule

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (September 14, 2009) TCU swimming and diving head coach Richard Sybesma announced the schedule for the 2009-10 season on Wednesday. The 14-meet schedule consists of four home meets that will be held at the University Recreation Center.

"I am excited about our schedule," said Sybesma. "It is highly competitive and will be fun to race with some of the best teams in the country."

The Horned Frogs will open the season with the North Texas Relays on Oct. 9 in Mansfield, Texas. The men will take on SMU and Incarnate Word, while the women will face North Texas, SMU, Tulane and Incarnate Word.

After a 13-day break, the women will return to action on Oct. 22 in Fort Collins, Colo., in a dual meet against Mountain West Conference opponent Colorado State. Last season, TCU snapped the Rams' four-meet unbeaten streak with a decisive 128-115 victory in Fort Worth.

The following day, the men will open the season alongside the women against MWC foe Air Force in Colorado Springs. The H2O Frogs return to the Academy for the second-straight year after splitting with the Falcons a year ago.

After hosting the annual Homecoming Alumni meet on Oct. 31, the H2O Forgs will travel to the west coast to battle against another conference rival, San Diego State, along with UC San Diego, Univ. of San Diego and Idaho on Nov. 6. TCU has won three of the four meetings with the Aztecs since joining the league in 2005-06.

The first conference home meet will take place 15 days later on Nov. 21, as the Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls will travel to Fort Worth. The Frogs will look to avenge a pair of losses in Laramie last season.

Selected members of the swimming squad will participate in the 2009 U.S. Short Course National Championships in Federal Way, Wash., Dec. 3-6, before wrapping
up the 2009 portion of the schedule at the Chesapeake Elite Pro-Am in Oklahoma
City on Dec. 19-20. The divers will conclude their fall semester in Austin,
Texas for the Texas Invite, Dec. 3-5.

The team will return to practice on Dec. 29, in preparation of opening the
spring season with a two-meet weekend in the Beehive State. TCU will travel to
Provo, Utah, to take on BYU on Jan. 7, before heading to Salt Lake City to
challenge Utah on Jan. 9.

The women return home for a meet against North Texas on Jan. 15, before hosting
New Mexico on Jan. 22. TCU owns a 13-1 overall record against the Mean Green and
have never lost to the Lobos in five meets, including a 127-106 victory last
season.

After both teams travel to Shreveport, La., on Jan. 30 to face Centenary, the
squad's will return home and close out the regular season with "Senior Day"
against UNLV Feb. 6.

Postseason action will begin on Feb. 24-27 with the MWC Championships at the
natatorium on the campus Oklahoma City Community College. The Purple and White
have scheduled a last chance meet, competing in the Austin Grand Prix on March
4. From above, the divers will head to the Zone "D" Diving Meet in College
Station, Texas, March 12-14.

The Women's NCAA Championships will be held March 18-20 in West Lafayette, Ind.,
while the Men's NCAA Championships will run from March 25-27 in Columbus, Ohio.

TCU Women's Tennis Announces 2009-10 Schedule

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (July 16, 2009) TCU women's tennis head coach Jefferson Hammond announced the schedule for the 2009-10 season Wednesday. The Horned Frogs will face nine teams that ended last season in the top-25, and 17 teams that finished in the
top-50.

"This is one of the strongest non-conference schedules in the country, and we look forward to the challenge," Hammond said. "Playing quality opponents helps our players get better and prepares us well for the conference season and the NCAA tournament."

The Frogs' non-conference schedule will be highlighted by home matches against No. 6 Baylor, No. 13 Stanford, No. 15 Arkansas, No. 23 SMU, No. 28 Texas A&M, No. 33 Illinois and No. 44 Virginia Commonwealth.

TCU will also face stiff non-conference competition on the road, facing No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 7 Miami, No. 18 Michigan, No. 22 Vanderbilt, No. 26 Alabama and No. 35 Auburn.

The Frogs will host three Mountain West Conference matches, while traveling away from Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center for the other five MWC meetings.

The fall season will begin on September 18 as the Horned Frogs will kick off the year at the Racquet Club Invitational in Midland, Texas. Selected players will then jump to the West Coast to Pacific Palisades, Calif., for the ITA All-American Invitational, starting Oct. 3. After the nine-day event, TCU will take part in the ITA Texas Regional in Waco, Texas, from Oct. 16-20.

On Nov. 5-8, select members of the Frogs’ roster will close out the fall schedule in New Haven, Conn., for the ITA National Indoor Individual Championships, while others take part in the Kitty Harrison Invitational in
Chapel Hill, N.C., Nov. 6-8.

"We will use the fall to build and gain confidence for the spring," Hammond said. "We have a strong fall schedule that will give our players opportunities to climb in the individual rankings."

The 2009 dual match season will begin in Knoxville, Tenn., to face No. 22
Vanderbilt as part of the “ITA Kickoff Weekend” on Jan. 29. TCU has claimed the
last two meetings against the Commodores to hold a 2-1 advantage in the all-time
series. The Horned Frogs will finish the weekend at Rocky Top with a tall task,
handling No. 10 Tennessee or No. 32 Texas.

TCU will open the home schedule at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center with a
premier battle against No. 13 Stanford on Feb. 5. The meeting will be the first
Fort Worth appearance for the Cardinal.
After an appearance in the final rounds of the ITA National Team Championships,
Feb. 12-15, the Frogs return home to take on cross-town rival No. 23 SMU for a
twilight match under the lights on Feb. 17. TCU holds a 26-17 lead in the
all-time series against the Mustangs, taking four of the last five matches. The
Frogs have also taken the last seven meetings against SMU at the Friedman Tennis
Center.

Four days later, TCU will host No. 15 Arkansas for a chance to avenge the
heartbreaking loss against the Razorbacks that dismissed the Frogs’ in 2009 NCAA
Regionals. The former Southwest Conference foe returns to Fort Worth for the
first time since 1988.

The Purple and White will wrap-up February with a three-match road swing through
No. 18 Michigan on Feb. 24, before taking on Southeastern Conference standouts
No. 26 Alabama and No. 35 Auburn on Feb. 27-28, respectively.

With only six matches scheduled during March, TCU will kick-start the month by
hosting No. 28 Texas A&M on March 6 in Fort Worth. The last two matches with the
Aggies have come down to the final court, as TCU turned the 2009 season around
with a 4-3 victory in College Station. The Frogs will end the weekend with a
matchup against No. 33 Illinois on March 7. TCU will look to build on their 3-1
ledger against the Fighting Illini, meeting for the first time since 1998.

After traveling to No. 7 Miami on March 15 and hosting No. 44 VCU on March 18,
the Frogs’ will head to Wichita, Kan., for a tough two-step against Wichita
State (March 26) and No. 5 Notre Dame (March 27).

TCU will return to the Lone Star State to open Mountain West Conference play,
hosting Air Force and Colorado State on April 2, before ending the home schedule
against Wyoming on April 3. The Purple and White have never lost to the MWC
trio, owning a 17-0 record against the league foes.

After battling UC-Irvine on April 7, the Frogs will make a pivotal trip to Las
Vegas, Nev., to challenge MWC rivals No. 42 San Diego State (April 9) and No. 43
UNLV (April 10). The Rebels were the only league opponent to defeat TCU in 2009,
but the Frogs got their revenge by taking down UNLV in the MWC Championship
finals.

TCU will wrap-up the conference season in Albuquerque, N.M., facing No. 64 BYU
on April 17, followed by a doubleheader against No. 63 Utah and New Mexico on
April 18. The 2010 regular season ends with a return trip to Waco to battle No.
6 Baylor on April 21.

The 2010 MWC Championships will be held in Las Vegas, Nev. April 28 – May 1. The
NCAA Team Championships will take place on May 20-24 in Athens, Ga., followed by
the NCAA Individual Championships on May 25-31.

FROGS CROWD FINAL ITA RANKINGS

FORT WORTH, TEXAS ( June 1, 2009) Four members of the TCU men’s tennis team were included in the season’s final release of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) national rankings, combining for five total entries. The Horned Frogs, which reached NCAA Regional play for the 18th time in 19 years, concluded the season at No. 38 in the national team rankings.

TCU’s final team rating marked the third time in the last four seasons that the squad finished 38th or higher. The four individuals and five entries marked the program’s highest season-ending totals in each category since 2000, when the Frogs finished with six each.

Senior Kriegler Brink, who concluded his career during TCU’s NCAA opening-round loss to Tulsa, finished the season as the highest-rated Frog in singles at No. 77. He posted a team-best 24-9 overall record in 2008-09, including 19-5 in spring dual matches, and went 12-1 when playing at his usual position of No. 3 singles.

Freshman Slah Mbarek finished his first season at TCU rated No. 93 in singles after spending much of the spring filling the top position of the Frog lineup. He posted a 12-10 record in dual-match play after joining the squad at semester. The native of Tunisia climbed as high as No. 61 in the national singles rankings, the highwater mark for any TCU player this season.

Brink and Mbarek also ranked 44th in the final ITA doubles rankings. The pair went 16-2 while playing together and played so successfully that it took over the team’s top doubles position. The duo did not lose a beat once it climbed into the No. 1 spot, going 10-1 down the final stretch of the season for the Frogs.

Brink and Mbarek each earned spots on both the All-Mountain West Conference Singles and Doubles Teams. Brink concluded his TCU career with respective singles and doubles records of 82-35 and 80-31.

Sophomore Emanuel Brighiu and junior Adrian Simon finished the campaign as TCU’s
top-rated doubles tandem at No. 36. The duo represented the Frogs at the NCAA Individual Championships and concluded the season with a 19-13 overall record. A 3-1 mark in conference play tied the squad for the team lead in MWC wins while earning it a spot on the All-MWC Doubles Team.

Brighiu also finished the year in the ITA singles ratings at No. 115. He opened the year as the Frogs’ No. 1 player, but was forced out of the lineup for a period of time while dealing with a nagging elbow injury. The injury plagued him throughout the season, but he returned to help TCU win the MWC regular season championship by recording a 4-2 record in league play. He finished the season 15-14 overall and 8-11 in dual matches, also earning All-MWC singles status.

Graduation Day for TCU Women's Tennis

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (May 12, 2009) After missing their on-campus graduation ceremony due to NCAA Regional action in Arkansas over the weekend, Macall Harkins and Anna Sydorska received their degrees Tuesday in a commencement held at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The degrees were presented by TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini and Provost Nowell Donovan.

The duo still have some tennis left to play, as they are preparing to make their
second-straight NCAA Doubles Championship appearance together, beginning May 20 in College Station, Texas.

Harkins transferred to TCU from Illinois before the 2006-07 season. After sitting out a year due to NCAA regulations, the Palos Verdes, Calif., native has been a solid rock for the Horned Frogs in singles and doubles action. Compiling overall records of 44-24 in singles and currently at a 50-24 clip in doubles, Harkins was a 2008 All-Mountain West Conference doubles selection and two-time singles honoree. She was recently named the Southwest Region Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, an honor going that goes to a player who has exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.

Sydorska, a 2007 doubles All-American and three-time All-MWC singles and doubles selection, has been a standout at TCU since joining the program in 2005. The Lviv, Ukraine product is currently tied for the Horned Frogs record for most
doubles wins in a career (105) and is fifth all-time in combined career wins
(178). Named to the 2007 ITA Collegiate All-Star team, Sydorska made four
consecutive ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, two-time ITA
Southwest Regional Doubles Champion and was also selected alongside former
doubles partner Ana Cetnik to represent TCU on the MWC 10th Anniversary team.
Sydorska finished her Frog career with a 73-44 singles record, while heading
into the NCAA Doubles Championship with a doubles ledger of 105-42.

Horned Frogs End 2009 Tennis Season With Heartbreaker At Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS (May 13, 2009) The 28th-ranked TCU women's tennis team fell to No. 14 Arkansas by a score of 4-3 Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Regionals at the Billingsley Tennis Center.

“It was a nice to see us come out and play well from the start,” TCU head coach
Jefferson Hammond said “We worked hard and competed hard. We will have to come
out and do the same tomorrow if we want to win the title.”

The Frogs jumped out to the 1-0 lead after cruising through the doubles action.
TCU's pairing of Idunn Hertzberg and Nina Munch-Soegaard led off with an
impressive 8-5 victory over Emily Carbone and Kate Lukomskaya at the No. 3
position. After falling behind 2-1 early, the Frogs’ stole three-straight games
and never looked back.

TCU’s 39th-ranked senior tandem of Macall Harkins and Anna Sydorska completed
the sweep with an 8-5 victory over the Razorbacks’ 20th-ranked duo of Nanar
Airapetian and Anouk Tigu. Despite dropping the opening game, Harkins and
Sydorksa battled to take the following four to go up 5-1. As the two teams
battled, the Purple and White prevailed to clinch the doubles point.

"It felt great to win the doubles point,” TCU head coach Jefferson Hammond said.
“We knew that would help give us a shot. Their doubles are very good and for us
to come away with that point meant a lot.”

With the win, Sydorska picked up her 105th career doubles win, tying former Frog
Lori Nelson for the program record. A 2007 doubles All-American, Sydorska will
have an opportunity to break the TCU benchmark alongside Harkins at the NCAA
Doubles Championship, beginning May 20.

After Munch-Soegaard fell from the top spot to open singles action, Harkins gave
the Frogs a 2-1 lead with a 6-0, 6-2 rout over No. 77 Tigu from the No. 2
position. The senior never trailed in the match and continued to dominate
opponents in straight sets, picking up her last nine wins in two sets. The
all-MWC singles selection finishes with her second consecutive 15-win season
spring, going 15-10 this semester, while posting a 26-14 ledger for the year.

Seconds later, the Hogs pulled the match even with a 6-2, 6-3 win over TCU
freshman Gaby Mastromarino from the sixth court. Fellow newcomer Kayla Duncan
returned the lead to the Frogs with her 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Carbone from the
No. 4 position. The Winston-Salem, N.C. native fought back from an early
first-set deficit, while cruising in the second stanza. Duncan finished the year
as the TCU leader in wins, racking up a 17-6 spring ledger, while totaling a
27-7 overall clip for the season.

Holding a 3-2 advantage with two courts left in action, the Frogs needed only
one win to clinch the match. Hertzberg commanded her opening set over
Airapetian, 6-4, but lost her game the rest of the day, dropping the final two
sets 6-1, 6-2. The loss pushed the match to 3-3 and focused all attention on the
No 3 position.

Sophomore Katariina Touhimaa battled back in her opening set from being down 3-2
to take a 5-4 lead. However, Arkansas senior Ela Kaluder had other plans,
stealing the final games in the opening frame to take the 7-5.

Kaluder took that momentum to blaze to an early 2-0 lead in the second set,
before Tuohimaa took three-straight games to cruise to a 3-2 lead. As Tuohimaa
jumped to a 5-3 advantage, it seemed as if the match would roll into a third and
final set, but the Hogs’ senior had wasn’t ready to give up, pushing the second
stanza into a tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker, Tuohimaa took an early 3-1 advantage, but saw it dwindle into
a 4-4 tie, before Kaluder would claim four of the five points to clinch the
match, 7-5, 7-6 (6).

“Arkansas' senior came through. They have had a tough year, kind of up and
down,” Hammond said. “In the end, I think this was their moment and they were
going to make sure that they did what they needed to do to win this match."

Harkins and Sydorska will represent TCU at the NCAA Doubles Championship, while
Munch-Soegaard will compete in the NCAA Singles Championship, May 20-25, in
College Station, Texas.


No. 14-1st Seed Arkansas (15-7) def. No. 28-2nd Seed TCU (17-11), 4-3

SINGLES
1. #2 Aurelija Miseviciute (Ark) def. #16 Nina Munch-Soegaard (TCU), 6-2, 6-1
2. #90 Macall Harkins (TCU) def. #77 Anouk Tigu (Ark), 6-0, 6-2
3. Ela Kaluder (Ark) def. Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU), 7-5, 7-6 (6)
4. Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Emily Carbone (Ark), 6-4, 6-3
5. Nanar Airapetian (Ark) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
6. Kate Lukomskaya (Ark) def. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU), 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 6, 4, 5, 3*

DOUBLES
1. #39 Harkins/Sydorska (TCU) def. #20 Airapetian/Tigu (Ark), 8-5
2. Duncan/Tuohimaa (TCU) vs. #45 Miseviciute/Kaluder (Ark), 5-7 unfinished
3. Hertzberg/Munch-Soegaard (TCU) vs. Carbone/Lukomskaya (Ark), 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1*

*Clinching point

TCU Tennis Returns To Action Against Arkansas Sunday

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS (May 10, 2009) The 28th-ranked TCU women’s tennis team will take on No. 14 Arkansas in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Team Championship Sunday at the Billingsley Tennis Center. The winner will advance to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships, which feature the nation’s top 16 teams, on May 15th in College Station, Texas.

TCU (17-10) makes its fifth NCAA second round showing since 2001 after storming past No. 36 Tulsa, 4-1, Saturday. Freshman Kayla Duncan sealed the deal with her 16th win of the spring, pushing her winning streak to 10 matches. The newcomer has won the deciding point for the Frogs’ on five occassions, leading all TCU players for the year.

Senior Anna Sydorska has a chance to tie Lori Nelson for the most career doubles wins in program history. After picking up her 104th doubles victory with senior partner Macall Harkinson Saturday, the Lviv, Ukraine product also surpassed Angela Bartzen and Teresa Dobson in career combined wins, notching her 177th overall victory as a Horned Frog to claim sole possession for the fifth-most career victories in TCU history.

The 14th-ranked Razorbacks (14-7) move into Sunday’s match after dominating Oral Roberts inthe first round, 4-0. Arkansas is paced by the No. 2 singles player in the country, senior Aurelija Miseviciute, as well as 77th-ranked Anouk Tigu. The Hogs also boast a pair of ranked doubles tandems, with Tigu and Nanar Airapetian sitting at No. 20 and Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder earning a No. 45 ranking.

The former Southwest Conference rivals have not squared-off since the Razorbacks elected to leave the league in 1991. TCU holds an 8-4 advantage in the all-time series, highlighted by a six-match winning streak that ran from 1984-89. The Frogs’ triumphed in the final meeting in 1991, the same year TCU claimed its only Southwest Conference title.

First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT Sunday and fans can follow the live action from GoFrogs.com. Visit NCAAsports.com for complete coverage of the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships.