Sprague Tennis Star Nick Wales Joins UP Men’s Tennis Program

Wales will be joining a Portland program which tallied a 13-8 overall record in 2007.

University of Portland men’s tennis head coach Aaron Gross has announced that Northwest standout Nick Wales (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) has committed to attend the university and will join the Pilots for the fall of 2007. Photo: UP Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. - University of Portland men’s tennis head coach Aaron Gross has announced that Northwest standout Nick Wales (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) has committed to attend the university and will join the Pilots for the fall of 2007.

Wales recently led Sprague to a district team title and is preparing for the 2007 OSAA 6A State Championships this week.

"Nick is the top senior in Oregon this year and we are very excited that he chose UP,” Gross said. “I think he has got a tremendous amount of potential to be a great college player."

Last week, Wales defeated Sprague teammate Jackson Martin 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 to win the Central Valley Conference district championship.

He is the No. 2 seed in the Oregon State Championships, which will be played at the Portland Tennis Center and Tualatin Hills Tennis Center on May 17th-19th.

As a junior in 2006, Wales reached the championship round in singles before losing to former teammate Curt Wheeler.

He is hoping to claim his first state title in singles this year, while helping Sprague defend its team title.

The 6-foot-4 Wales is left-handed and described as primarily a serve and volley player.

But don’t be surprised if he can beat you from the right side. After a left elbow injury prior to his high school career, Wales switched and played right-handed for a while in his youth.

Wales will be joining a Portland program which tallied a 13-8 overall record in 2007, including a 2-3 mark against nationally ranked opponents.

The Pilots graduated seniors Colby Jager, Alex Strom and Scott Kennel, but return four of their top six singles players.

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