Thomson Named to SEC All-Newcomer Team
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis returning freshman Connor Thomson was named to the SEC All-Newcomer Team, a new recognition designated for second-year players who had their season cut short last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomson was one of six players named to the team after he rose to top-25 rankings in both singles and doubles.
The Glasgow, Scotland, native finished his second season at 18-14 in singles and 22-13 in doubles. Thomson opened the season playing in the No. 3 singles position then climbed to the No. 2 spot midway through the campaign as his national ranking rose from No. 29 in late March to No. 22 heading into the NCAA Tournament. He went 8-3 in SEC action and led the team with five match-clinching victories on the season, including three of the team’s seven SEC victories.
In doubles, Thomson teamed with Daniel Rodrigues to form the No. 13 duo in the country behind a 22-13 record that included a 15-8 mark in the No. 1 spot in the lineup. They went 11-7 against ranked opponents and were ranked as high as No. 11 late in the season.
The Gamecocks finished the season ranked No. 13 in the country, the program’s best final ranking since coming in at No. 5 at the end of the 1988-89 campaign. South Carolina advanced to the NCAA Championships Round of 16 for the first time since the 2005 event.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
2021 Men’s Tennis SEC All-Newcomer Team
Tyler Stice, Auburn
Blaise Bicknell, Florida
Tyler Zink, Georgia
Liam Draxl, Kentucky
Gabriel Diallo, Kentucky
Connor Thomson, South Carolina
The Glasgow, Scotland, native finished his second season at 18-14 in singles and 22-13 in doubles. Thomson opened the season playing in the No. 3 singles position then climbed to the No. 2 spot midway through the campaign as his national ranking rose from No. 29 in late March to No. 22 heading into the NCAA Tournament. He went 8-3 in SEC action and led the team with five match-clinching victories on the season, including three of the team’s seven SEC victories.
In doubles, Thomson teamed with Daniel Rodrigues to form the No. 13 duo in the country behind a 22-13 record that included a 15-8 mark in the No. 1 spot in the lineup. They went 11-7 against ranked opponents and were ranked as high as No. 11 late in the season.
The Gamecocks finished the season ranked No. 13 in the country, the program’s best final ranking since coming in at No. 5 at the end of the 1988-89 campaign. South Carolina advanced to the NCAA Championships Round of 16 for the first time since the 2005 event.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
2021 Men’s Tennis SEC All-Newcomer Team
Tyler Stice, Auburn
Blaise Bicknell, Florida
Tyler Zink, Georgia
Liam Draxl, Kentucky
Gabriel Diallo, Kentucky
Connor Thomson, South Carolina
