SELINSGROVE, Pa. – New Head Coach Sean Monaghan takes over the reins of the men's tennis team this season after Gary Fincke led the Crusaders to a 146-121 record over his 21 seasons at the helm.

Monaghan takes over the team to find four returning letterwinners and a talented crew of freshman and other squad members from last year's team that went 4-6 overall and 2-3 in the MAC Commonwealth Conference.

“I think we can be competitive in the MAC, and give a strong running for at least the top three spots in our division," Monaghan said.

The Crusaders lost three seniors from last year's team including number-one singles and doubles Tim Peters, number-five singles and number-two doubles Ben DeBell and number-three doubles Ben Stapelfeld.

Sophomore tri-captain Karl Rosen (Rocky Hill, N.J./Montgomery H.S.) will step in to help close the gap created by Peters' departure at number one singles after finishing last year 3-7 overall in the number-two singles. Rosen teamed with Peters' to go 6-2 in number-one doubles last year.

Junior tri-captain Brian Ardire (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey H.S.) will take to the court at number-two singles after finishing last year 2-8 overall. His overall career record is 4-21 in singles and 3-11 in doubles.

Senior tri-captain Rob Logan (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood H.S.) will also provide on-court leadership this year after patrolling the number-six singles slot last year, recording a 5-3 overall record in singles. He may also see time in a double position.

"We lost some quality players through graduation but we have some players returning who can make an immediate impact for the team," Monaghan said. "I think Karl Rosen, Brian Ardire and Rob Logan will bring leadership and strength to the team."

Sophomore Adam Marichak (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg H.S.) also returns after a 2-4 rookie season which saw him play in the number-four and six singles slots. Marichak also went 1-2 in doubles action last year. Monaghan expects him to be one of the top returning players this year.

The team can fill the final two singles slots with many talented players including sophomores Chris Cassell (Mount Gretna, Pa./Palmyra H.S.) and Larry Cohen (Mount Bethel, Pa./Bangor H.S.) or freshmen Justin Rhood (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove H.S.) and Shawn Lindsey (Middletown, Md./Middletown H.S.)

"We have some good young freshmen in Shawn Lindsey and Justin Rhood. We also have Larry Cohen, Chris Cassel and Adam Marichak, along with [freshman] Brian Piacentino (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett H.S.), who will see time this year," Monaghan said.

In doubles competition, the team is open as the regular teams of Peters and Rosen at number-one singles and Ardire and DeBell at number-two singles have each lost memebers to graduation. Returning players who have seen time in doubles include Rosen, Ardire, Cassel, Marichak, and Logan.

The Crusaders will play two tune-up matches before heading into the Commonwealth Conference season at Lebanon Valley on March 23 at 1 p.m. The Crusaders open their season against the Capital Athletic Conference's York Spartans, who return all but one starter from last year's team. Susquehanna will open then come back home for the opener against the Centennial Conference's Gettysburg Bullets squad that finished 7-7 in 2001.