KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The thumb is feeling kind-of lonely.
That could change for Western Michigan University's men's tennis team this season as the Broncos go for their fifth straight Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championship, thus earning one for the thumb. In the past four seasons in which the tournament was held (2020 was washed out because of COVID), WMU was 32-1 in league dual matches, the lone loss coming to Ball State last season.
The winter/spring season starts on Saturday at West Hills Athletic Club with matches against Butler at 10 a.m. and Illinois-Chicago at 3 p.m. Admission is free.
In an oddity in college athletics, WMU's team is basically the same as last season. Peter Kuszynski and Fynn Lohse decided to come back for their COVID seasons, and like the two veterans, everyone played for the Broncos in the 2021-22 season.
''This is the first time I haven't had a new teammate,'' Kuszynski said. ''In my career, I've probably played with 20-30 different guys, a different athletic director and four or five trainers.
''Every time we play a school, it's like 'You're still here?' and it's a good thing. Being a Division I athlete is a privilege.''
With everyone back, and healthy, head coach Dave Morin, who is starting his 27th year at WMU, won't have to move players around to different spots…or will he?
''Our top three (Kuszynski, Anton Arzhankin and Ben George) are interchangeable with Peter and Anton trading off at No 1,'' Morin said. ''Peter maybe had more marquee wins, beating three No. 1 players at Big Ten schools, but on any given day, that could change.''
The same goes for the fourth, fifth and sixth singles players (Arjun Honnappa, Brogan Pierce and Jackson Boone), too.
In last season's MAC outdoor championships, a dual-match format, WMU defeated Toledo, 4-2, for the title. Kuszynski played No. 1, Arzhankin No. 2, Lohse No. 3, George No. 4, Honnappa No 5 and Pierce No. 6. Arzhankin was named the MAC Tournament Outstanding Player.
''We like to move them around, to keep the other team guessing,'' Morin said. ''I feel like in any sport, if you have to play the same team or the same player three times and beat them three times, every time the underdog gets to play the favorite, it's going to be a little closer.
''If we are favored in certain positions, I'd rather see our opponents only get to see that player of ours once.''
Added George: ''In the MAC, we play everyone twice and two other teams a third time (in regular season dual matches) so if you are playing the same guy three time in a row, they could get a read on you and you could get a read on them. It goes both ways. For example, Toledo's No. 1 player (Pawit Sornlaksup) everyone will get a chance at him to see what works best.''
What worked best two months ago was George. In an event in Lansing, he defeated Sornlaksup. Last season, Sornlaksup had a sterling 22-2 dual record.
''Ben has been coming on real strong and I will give him some opportunities at No. 1 singles,'' Morin said.
Putting a doubles lineup is another challenge.
''In singles, you only have to evaluate that one individual,'' the coach said. ''In doubles, it's a coordinated dance, and even if a team is good, the pair can go stale, so we might split them apart and then bring them back together.
''We probably have more parity in doubles than we do in singles.''
Wherever Kuszynski plays, he just wants to be healthy. He's gone through shoulder and knee problems in his career.
''I had to pull out of the MAC Invite (last fall) and miss three weeks not practicing because of the knee injury, which was disappointing,'' he said. ''It's 100 percent now.''
Going for a fifth title, and having the target on their backs, doesn't mean all the pressure is on the Broncos, according to George.
''It can go both ways in that going in, the expectation is to win and that puts pressure on us, but you can turn it around and it puts pressure on them, especially if the match is close,'' the junior said. ''In those pressure moments, maybe they have those doubts and just have a quick lapse and it completely changes the match.''
Added Kuszynski: ''Everyone comes in and sees the championship and NCAA qualifying banners and wants to chop down the Broncos. The conference is getting stronger, but so are we.''
The thumb is waiting.
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