Gamecocks Pick Up Three All-SEC Honors
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Three Gamecocks from the South Carolina men’s tennis team were awarded All-SEC Honors, announced by the Southeastern Conference on Thursday.
Connor Thomson was named to the All-SEC First Team while Lucas da Silva and Casey Hoole were appointed to the All-SEC Second Team.
This marks Thomson’s third All-SEC First Team honor. He was named to the Second Team in 2022. The graduate student holds a 12-4 overall singles record for dual match season which includes a strong 10-2 conference record from the No. 1 (5-4), 2 (2-0) and 3 (5-0) positions. He has earned six ranked wins which is highlighted by a clutch 6-3, 6-1 takedown of No. 25 Alex Kotzen when Thomson last minute had to move up to the No. 1 position against then-No. 18 Tennessee, which led the Gamecocks to upset the Volunteers 4-3.
Thomson is currently ranked No. 18 in singles which is a season high, and No. 3 in doubles with Lucas da Silva which is the second highest doubles rankings in Gamecock program history. The Scotland native was ranked every week in singles except the first of dual match season and for six weeks in doubles with da Silva. In singles he was ranked in the top 50 for the last four weeks of rankings while in doubles, him and da Silva have been ranked No. 4 or higher for the past four rankings.
Thomson has clinched five matches throughout the season, including two over No. 12 ranked teams. Back in March he staged a three-set comeback over Alan Magadan 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to help the Gamecocks upset then-No.12 Texas A&M 4-2. In the SEC Tournament, he led the Gamecocks back to the championship round for the second time in program history with another three-set comeback win against No. 29 Benito Sanchez Martinez of then-No. 12 Mississippi State. Thomson delivered the clinch in a must-win match, taking the victory 0-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) to defeat the Bulldogs 4-3. Additionally, the Gamecock was named SEC Player of the Week twice this season (Feb. 26 & April 9).
Lucas da Silva has a 23-14 overall singles record with a 10-8 dual match standing from the No. 2 (8-6) and 3 (2-2) positions, tallying five ranked wins. Back during fall season, da Silva qualified for the NCAA Individual Championship in singles after making it to the finals of the ITA East Sectional Championship. To open SEC season, the junior clinched the win against then-No. 19 Alabama, defeating No. 59 Roan Jones 4-2, 6-2, 6-4. He has a 20-10 record in doubles which includes a 10-5 record with Thomson. The two held an eight-match win streak that lasted exactly a month. The duo have five ranked wins, all against top 68 opponents. Alongside Thomson, da Silva took down No. 9 Billy Blaydes and Will Nolan of then-No.35 Auburn in February, which greatly helped the Gamecocks upset the Tigers 6-1. The junior earned his first singles ranking of the season this week, coming in at No. 124.
Hoole earned a 17-11 overall singles record with a 10-7 dual match record and 5-4 SEC play record from the No. 1 (10-5) and 2 (0-2) positions this season. The senior picked up five ranked singles wins including a takedown of No. 9 Jack Anthrop of Ohio State at ITA All-American Championships. He was ranked No. 123 in singles on April 8. Hoole holds a 16-7 record in doubles which includes two ranked wins. He clinched the 4-0 sweep for the Gamecocks against Ole Miss from the top of the lineup with a 7-6(10), 6-4 win. Hoole was also named SEC Player of the Week on March 12.
The Gamecocks find out their fate for the rest of the season on Monday, April 28 at the NCAA Selection Show.
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