Brycki, Bethke named ASU Athletes of the Week


Women's tennis player Michelle Brycki has been named ASU's Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 24th. Brycki continued her stellar season as she defeated Deborah Castany from rival Arizona in straight sets, while also teaming with Hannah James to win a doubles match as well. The Sun Devils finished the regular season 13-5 (5-3 Pac-10) and now head for postseason play. The Arizona State women's tennis team will head to Ojai, Calif., for the annual Pacific-10 Conference Individual Tennis Championship. Held in conjunction with the 110th Annual Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament, the action begins Thursday, April 22 and will conclude Sunday, April 25. The tournament determines the conference's singles and doubles champions.

Not too many tennis players can say they can end a season with a zero in the loss column. ASU's Michelle Brycki can. The sophomore has gone a flawless 14-0 in dual match singles to help lead the Sun Devils to a 13-5, 5-3 Pac-10 record. Thanks in part to Brycki's tenacity, the Sun Devils have earned upsets over Pac-10 powerhouses California and USC. Last weekend, Brycki defeated Arizona's Deborah Castany in straight sets to aid ASU in their 5-2 victory over their in-state rival. Additionally, she teamed up with Hannah James to win 8-2 at the No. 3 doubles spot. Brycki, is also the first significant starter in Sheila McInerney's 26 years as a head coach to finish the dual season with a perfect record.

Men's track runner Brandon Bethke has been named ASU's Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 24th. Bethke had another solid race for the Sun Devil track team, as he posted a near personal best time in the 5,000m run, while further establishing himself as one of the best long-distance runners in the country. The Sun Devils will return to action next Saturday when they play host to the Sun Devil Open. The meet will be the final home event of the season for ASU.

Bethke competed in the invitational section of the 5,000m run at the 52nd Mt. SAC Relays and clocked in at 13:27.83 to finish fourth overall and first among collegiate athletes in the event. Just 0.04 off his school-record time set one year earlier at the same meet, Bethke's time currently ranks him first in the Pac-10 Conference, second in the NCAA and 14th in the world.