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Utah Men's Tennis Adds Two Southern California Standouts
11/14/2019 9:16 AM | Men's Tennis
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah men's tennis team has announced the addition of two future Utes. Utah will add five-star commit Bruno Krenn for next year's squad, while four-star commit Wally Thayne is set to join the team in January in time for the 2020 season.
Both Krenn and Thayne will strengthen the Utah men's tennis team immediately, providing valuable skills to an already talented squad. Along with Geronimo Espin Busleiman and Franco Capalbo who are set to join the Utes in January, Thayne will look to add to a Utah team striving for its third consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
"We are absolutely thrilled to add two top players out of Southern California to our team," said Utah head coach Roeland Brateanu. "Both guys bring a great passion to the game and we look forward to working with them."
Bruno Krenn - Calabasas, Calif. (Century Academy)
"Bruno is a real diamond in the rough and is one of the biggest risers in the national rankings over the last couple of years," Brateanu explained.
A five-star commit for the Utah men's tennis team, Krenn will join the Utes next fall with a decorated junior career. Krenn is currently ranked as the No. 51 player in the nation following tremendous play against the nation's top competition.
Krenn holds a 40-19 record in the past year, which includes an impressive 18-4 record against four-star opponents. The Calabasas, Calif. native also has posted a notable 8-9 record versus competitors holding a five-star ranking. Highlighting his junior career thus far, Krenn knocked off the nation's No. 2-ranked recruit in the 2020 class at the Easter Bowl ITF Tennis Championships this past March.
The son of Leo and Katy, Krenn is set to graduate from Century Academy. His father grew up playing tennis competitively in Austria, while his grandfather was also a top tennis player in Austria. Krenn currently trains at Topseed Tennis Academy and is coached by Steve McAvoy.
"I am excited to join the University of Utah men's tennis team because of the amazing facilities and unbelievable coaching staff," said Krenn. "On my visit, I knew this was the school I wanted to attend and felt it was a place where I can continue to grow and be a part of this outstanding Pac-12 team."
Wally Thayne – Newbury Park, Calif. (Newbury Park HS)
"Wally has a big game and loves to think forward," Brateanu explained. "He will be an immediate competition for both singles and doubles lineups."
A graduate from the class of 2019, Thayne is set to join the Utes in January. Thayne, a high school All-American, holds a No. 73 recruiting rank and has been tabbed as a four-star recruit. Thayne has held a No. 1 ranking in the SoCal Boys' 18s and is currently ranked on the ATP Doubles Tour.
Thayne has posted a 34-22 record during the past year of his junior career, which included a singles run at the prestigious Ojai Junior Tournament where he reached the championship match. Thayne is 8-6 against five-star recruits recently, while having a 12-10 record against four-star prospects in the past 12 months. A Newbury Park High School standout, Thayne helped lead his high school squad to its first league team championship in 47 years as a junior.
Thayne trains under coach Brad Gilbert, a former professional tennis player who achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 4 in the world in 1990 and tabbed 20 singles titles on the ATP Tour. The bronze medalist at the 1988 Olympics currently serves as a tennis analyst for ESPN.
"I picked the University of Utah because of the great coaching staff, the opportunity to play in the Pac-12 Conference, Utah's great entrepreneurship program and the chance to play in front of family and friends," Thayne said. "I look forward to helping Utah win a Pac-12 championship and making a deep run in the NCAA tournament."
Both Krenn and Thayne will strengthen the Utah men's tennis team immediately, providing valuable skills to an already talented squad. Along with Geronimo Espin Busleiman and Franco Capalbo who are set to join the Utes in January, Thayne will look to add to a Utah team striving for its third consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
"We are absolutely thrilled to add two top players out of Southern California to our team," said Utah head coach Roeland Brateanu. "Both guys bring a great passion to the game and we look forward to working with them."
Bruno Krenn - Calabasas, Calif. (Century Academy)
"Bruno is a real diamond in the rough and is one of the biggest risers in the national rankings over the last couple of years," Brateanu explained.
A five-star commit for the Utah men's tennis team, Krenn will join the Utes next fall with a decorated junior career. Krenn is currently ranked as the No. 51 player in the nation following tremendous play against the nation's top competition.
Krenn holds a 40-19 record in the past year, which includes an impressive 18-4 record against four-star opponents. The Calabasas, Calif. native also has posted a notable 8-9 record versus competitors holding a five-star ranking. Highlighting his junior career thus far, Krenn knocked off the nation's No. 2-ranked recruit in the 2020 class at the Easter Bowl ITF Tennis Championships this past March.
The son of Leo and Katy, Krenn is set to graduate from Century Academy. His father grew up playing tennis competitively in Austria, while his grandfather was also a top tennis player in Austria. Krenn currently trains at Topseed Tennis Academy and is coached by Steve McAvoy.
"I am excited to join the University of Utah men's tennis team because of the amazing facilities and unbelievable coaching staff," said Krenn. "On my visit, I knew this was the school I wanted to attend and felt it was a place where I can continue to grow and be a part of this outstanding Pac-12 team."
Wally Thayne – Newbury Park, Calif. (Newbury Park HS)
"Wally has a big game and loves to think forward," Brateanu explained. "He will be an immediate competition for both singles and doubles lineups."
A graduate from the class of 2019, Thayne is set to join the Utes in January. Thayne, a high school All-American, holds a No. 73 recruiting rank and has been tabbed as a four-star recruit. Thayne has held a No. 1 ranking in the SoCal Boys' 18s and is currently ranked on the ATP Doubles Tour.
Thayne has posted a 34-22 record during the past year of his junior career, which included a singles run at the prestigious Ojai Junior Tournament where he reached the championship match. Thayne is 8-6 against five-star recruits recently, while having a 12-10 record against four-star prospects in the past 12 months. A Newbury Park High School standout, Thayne helped lead his high school squad to its first league team championship in 47 years as a junior.
Thayne trains under coach Brad Gilbert, a former professional tennis player who achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 4 in the world in 1990 and tabbed 20 singles titles on the ATP Tour. The bronze medalist at the 1988 Olympics currently serves as a tennis analyst for ESPN.
"I picked the University of Utah because of the great coaching staff, the opportunity to play in the Pac-12 Conference, Utah's great entrepreneurship program and the chance to play in front of family and friends," Thayne said. "I look forward to helping Utah win a Pac-12 championship and making a deep run in the NCAA tournament."
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