Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Assistant Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College has been selected by the league’s head coaches as the preseason favorite to win the 2022 Midwest Conference (MWC) men’s tennis championship, announced Thursday.
 
Grinnell claimed the top spot collecting six first-place votes to finish with 36 points. In 2021, the Pioneers won their 17^th consecutive league title and made their 14^th NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
Lake Forest College earned 31 points and picked up the final first-place vote to secure second place.
 
Cornell College was picked third with 23 points and Lawrence University in fourth with 22 points.
 
Ripon College (14), Monmouth College (12), and Illinois College (9) round out the 7-team poll.
 
The men’s tennis season begins with two teams in non-conference action on Friday, February 4, while league play kicks off Saturday, April 2.
 
The MWC Men’s Tennis Championship Weekend is scheduled for Friday, April 22, through Sunday, April 24, 2022, at the Hitters SportsPlex in Middleton, Wisconsin. The Team Tournament will take place on Friday, April 22, with the top four teams competing for the league title and the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. The Individual Singles and Doubles Tournament will follow on Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24.
 
The full preseason poll results and quick facts for all seven MWC teams can be found below:
 
2022 MWC Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll – Team (first-place votes), points
1. Grinnell College (6) – 36 points
2. Lake Forest College (1) – 31 points
3. Cornell College – 23 points
4. Lawrence University – 22 points
5. Ripon College – 14 points
6. Monmouth College – 12 points
7. Illinois College – 9 points
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Trent Schneider (1^st Season) 
2021: 10-9 (overall); 5-3 (MWC South Division)
All-Conference Returnees: Alexander Hadler-Strumlauf (So), Chris Penas-Hull (So), Federico Polidori (So)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Zack Hasenyager (1^st Season)
2021: 9-1 (overall); 8-0 (MWC South Division)
All-Conference Returnees: Jonah Gilmore (So), Bowen Mince (Sr)
 
Illinois College Blues Boys
Head Coach: Andrew Coon (2^nd Season)
2021: 0-15 (overall); 0-7 (MWC South Division)
All-Conference Returnees: Ethan Sabotta (Jr)
  
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Scot Reinhart (1^st Season)
2021: 6-3 (overall); 5-0 (MWC North Division)
All-Conference Returnees: Zach Cho (Sr), Oleksyi Vyshyvanyuk (Jr)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Steve Francour (9^th Season)
2021: N/A
All-Conference Returnees: N/A

Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Brian Jordan (8^th Season)
2021: 2-7 (overall); 2-5 (MWC South Division)
All-Conference Returnees: Andrew Shie (Sr)
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Steve Burns (3^rd Season)
2021: 3-7 (overall); 1-4 (MWC North Division)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A