SUMTER, S.C. -- Francis Marion University head coach Garth Thomson, senior Kevin Taylor, and junior David Budler all earned awards at the 2006 Peach Belt Conference tennis awards banquet in Sumter, held in conjunction with the PBC men's and women's tennis tournaments.
Thomson swept "Coach of the Year" honors for both men's and women's tennis, while Kevin Taylor was named the men's tennis "Player of the Year" and Budler joined Taylor on the All-Conference Team.
Taylor becomes the first Patriot men's player to garner "Player of the Year" recognition. The senior from Benoni, South Africa, was 16-4 in dual match play this spring at the No.1 singles position, including a 4-2 mark against PBC competition. He is currently ranked fifth in NCAA Division II singles play. Taylor won the ITA Mid-Atlantic region singles title last fall and finished third at the ITA National Small College Championships.
Taylor and Budler combined to post a 13-2 record at the No. 1 doubles spot and were rewarded with All-PBC honors. They are currently ranked sixth nationally.
Thomson, in his 14th season at FMU, has guided the Patriot men to a 16-1 mark that includes a 15-match winning streak, a No. 8 nationally ranking, and the number three seed at the PBC Tournament. His FMU men's squads have advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament in 10 of the past 11 seasons.
On the women's side, Thomson has directed the Patriots to their best record ever, 17-4, and a No. 11 national ranking. The Patriots enter the PBC Tournament as the fourth seed riding a 10-match winning streak.
It is the fourth time Thomson has earned the men's "Coach of the Year" award, but the first time he has received the women's honor. His career men's record stands at 206-94, while his women's coaching tally is 155-131.
The All-PBC teams were selected by the league’s head coaches, and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
