AUniversity of Minnesota senior Chris Wettengel (Bentonville, Ark./Bentonville HS) has been named the Big Ten Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week, following his outstanding performances last weekend in three dual matches in Michigan. Wettengel went 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles play to help lead the 43rd-ranked Golden Gophers defeat Western Michigan, Michigan and Michigan State.

Wettengel, the 2003 Big Ten Singles Champion, recorded three singles wins last weekend, extending his spring win streak to six matches and pushing his dual record to 12-4 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten action. While at the top slot, he defeated Western Michigan's Ravi Pathanjali, 4-6, 6- 4, 6-2, and teamed with Andres Osorio to knock off 38th-ranked Pathanjali and Jeff French, 8-4, at the top doubles slot. The senior then squared off against 49th-ranked Michael Rubin of Michigan in a rematch of the 2003 Big Ten Singles Championship. Wettengel came out on top, 6-3, 5-7, 6- 4, before beating the Wolverines' No. 1 doubles team of Anthony Jackson and Brian Hung, 8-4. Playing at No. 2, Wettengel defeated Michigan State's Cameron Marshall, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1.

The award is the second for a Minnesota player this season and Wettengel's first career Big Ten Athlete of the Week honor.

Minnesota (10-7, 5-1 Big Ten) continues Big Ten play this weekend with a dual against Wisconsin at noon on Sunday, April 11.