Pudney named Big Sky MVP as six Griz earn conference honors
5/9/2022 10:23:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Most sports fans will remember when an injured Kirk Gibson pumped his fist while limping around the bases after hitting one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in game one of the 1988 World Series.
Most would also probably remember when Tiger Woods gutted his way around Torrey Pines with two stress fractures in his left leg to win the 2008 U.S. Open or when Michael Jordan drained 38 points in game five of the 1997 NBA Finals while suffering through a severe bout of food poisoning.
We all love a good play-through-the-pain performance.
While not on the same scale as the World Series or the U.S. Open, Montana witnessed some great moments in mental and physical toughness this spring when UM men's tennis senior Ed Pudney overcame not one but two sprained ankles and hobbled around the court to take a straight-set win over one of the best players in the Big Sky Conference.
The couple of dozen or so fans at the Peak Racquet Club that day were treated to as an inspiring performance a sports fan could ask for, and it spoke volumes about Pudney's character and the kind of season he was en route to completing.
News of that performance, coupled with a league-leading 12-3 singles record, made its way around college tennis circles, and people took notice.
And now, as a tip-of-the-cap from coaches around the conference, Pudney has been named the Big Sky's Most Valuable Player, the league announced Monday with its all-conference awards release. He now becomes just the second league MVP in program history, joining Andrew Warren, who won the award after UM's 2014 NCAA tournament run.
Pudney's MVP and unanimous first-team all-conference selections highlight a big haul of honors for Montana this season, with six Grizzlies earning recognition.
Sophomore Moritz Stoeger went undefeated in league play to earn a second-team all-conference selection in singles, while Oisin Shaffrey and Lawrence Sciglitano earned an honorable mention.
Freshman Gustav Theilgaard and his doubles partner Milo Benn also landed on the second-team all-conference doubles list after going 12-3 as a pair this season.
But in the wake of one of the greatest seasons in team history, it was Pudney's performance that will earn the Englishman legendary status for years to come.
"I thought Ed was having an MVP season up until his two severe ankle injuries, then he comes out and puts in some of the best performances I've ever seen here, to, in my mind, sort of cement it," said head coach Jason Brown.
"A lot of athletes could have chosen to literally be done. But instead, he not only inspired his teammates but inspired his coaches with his toughness and his attitude. He didn't look for any excuses but used it as something to overcome. I think the returners are going to take those lessons with them moving forward.
"I also think this is an absolute legacy award. He's battled his way up the lineup throughout his career, improved every single year, and has done it with class and grit. So, this kind of puts a crown jewel on a great career."
For Pudney, who also had a stellar fall tournament season to cap his senior year with a 23-6 overall singles record, the MVP award on top of so much adversity makes it that much more enjoyable.
"When the injuries came around, that wasn't expected, so this definitely feels more special considering what I went through. It's probably the toughest season with injuries I've had since I've been here, so to get my best record in the same year is pretty special. And getting MVP is sort of the icing on the cake because that wasn't something I was expecting. So, it's extremely special," he said.
With the Grizzlies spending seven weeks this season in the national rankings for the first time in program history, it took a team effort to get them there.
Stoeger won his last eight matches of the season to remain undefeated at 7-0 in conference play and finish at 11-3 in the spring duals season.
"Moritz made a huge step up. He didn't have a great fall and was pretty frustrated, but he's a really hard worker, and it showed. Some things clicked for him, and he built some confidence and got rolling. He started believing no one could beat him, and he proved it," said Brown.
Shaffrey earned an all-conference honorable mention in singles to cap his stellar career. He was named the 2022 Grizzly Cup winner for Montana's top overall student-athlete in April after posting a 19-5 overall record in Big Sky play, having won 15-straight league matches between 2019 and 2022.
Sciglitano, a junior, also picked up an honorable mention in his first year as a Grizzly going 6-2 in conference play and 12-4 overall.
"Lawrence and Oisin both had really nice years against tough opponents at the top of the lineup, and the fact that coaches acknowledge that I think is pretty special," Brown added.
Benn and Theilgaard struck the right chemistry as a doubles pair to earn a second-team honor from the league. The senior/freshman combo had the best record in the league on court three doubles at 5-2 while impressing at 12-3 in dual action this spring.
"They just didn't lose. Our doubles sort of struggled down the stretch, and they were the ones we knew were getting it done every week. I think Gustav played amazing doubles, and Milo gelled really well with him. It was nice to see that freshman/senior combo have a real impact," said Brown.
Despite losing four seniors in Pudney, Shaffrey, Benn, and Pontus Hallgren, Montana will look to build on the momentum of 2022's historic season. And with three all-conference performers returning, Brown thinks the Griz are poised to do just that.
"It's really tough to have the MVP graduate and to think we're still going to be solid. But the thing I take away from this is we have a freshman, a sophomore, and a junior all getting some form of accolade. Those guys have learned so much from Ed and the other seniors, and I think they're ready to take the reins."
2022 Big Sky Men's Tennis Individual Awards
Coach of the Year: Trey Morris (Montana State)
Most Valuable Player: Ed Pudney (Montana)
Freshman of the Year: Francisco Gay (Idaho)
All-Big Sky Singles
First Team
Francisco Bascon (Idaho)*
Ed Pudney (Montana)*
Mark Keki (Sacramento State)
Matej Panik (Montana State)
Patrik Trhac (Idaho State)
Sebastian Buxman (Weber State)
* - Unanimous first-team selection
Second Team
Eban Straker-Meads (NAU)
Matteo Masala (Idaho)
Moritz Stoeger (Montana)
Patrick Kristensen (Idaho State)
Dominik Buzonics (NAU)
Joaquin Espinoza (Montana State)
Honorable Mention
Lawrence Sciglitano (Montana)
Jamieson Nathan (Montana State)
Oisin Shaffrey (Montana)
All-Big Sky Doubles
First Team
Keki/Voros (Sacramento State)
Trhac/Petrovic (Idaho State)
Nathan/Panik (Montana State)
Second Team
Buzonics/Groves (NAU)
Straker-Meads/Tumosa (NAU)
Theilgaard/Benn (Montana)
Honorable Mention
Gay/Duron (Idaho)
Bascon/Casino (Idaho)
Most would also probably remember when Tiger Woods gutted his way around Torrey Pines with two stress fractures in his left leg to win the 2008 U.S. Open or when Michael Jordan drained 38 points in game five of the 1997 NBA Finals while suffering through a severe bout of food poisoning.
We all love a good play-through-the-pain performance.
While not on the same scale as the World Series or the U.S. Open, Montana witnessed some great moments in mental and physical toughness this spring when UM men's tennis senior Ed Pudney overcame not one but two sprained ankles and hobbled around the court to take a straight-set win over one of the best players in the Big Sky Conference.
The couple of dozen or so fans at the Peak Racquet Club that day were treated to as an inspiring performance a sports fan could ask for, and it spoke volumes about Pudney's character and the kind of season he was en route to completing.
News of that performance, coupled with a league-leading 12-3 singles record, made its way around college tennis circles, and people took notice.
And now, as a tip-of-the-cap from coaches around the conference, Pudney has been named the Big Sky's Most Valuable Player, the league announced Monday with its all-conference awards release. He now becomes just the second league MVP in program history, joining Andrew Warren, who won the award after UM's 2014 NCAA tournament run.
Pudney's MVP and unanimous first-team all-conference selections highlight a big haul of honors for Montana this season, with six Grizzlies earning recognition.
Sophomore Moritz Stoeger went undefeated in league play to earn a second-team all-conference selection in singles, while Oisin Shaffrey and Lawrence Sciglitano earned an honorable mention.
Freshman Gustav Theilgaard and his doubles partner Milo Benn also landed on the second-team all-conference doubles list after going 12-3 as a pair this season.
But in the wake of one of the greatest seasons in team history, it was Pudney's performance that will earn the Englishman legendary status for years to come.
"I thought Ed was having an MVP season up until his two severe ankle injuries, then he comes out and puts in some of the best performances I've ever seen here, to, in my mind, sort of cement it," said head coach Jason Brown.
"A lot of athletes could have chosen to literally be done. But instead, he not only inspired his teammates but inspired his coaches with his toughness and his attitude. He didn't look for any excuses but used it as something to overcome. I think the returners are going to take those lessons with them moving forward.
"I also think this is an absolute legacy award. He's battled his way up the lineup throughout his career, improved every single year, and has done it with class and grit. So, this kind of puts a crown jewel on a great career."
For Pudney, who also had a stellar fall tournament season to cap his senior year with a 23-6 overall singles record, the MVP award on top of so much adversity makes it that much more enjoyable.
"When the injuries came around, that wasn't expected, so this definitely feels more special considering what I went through. It's probably the toughest season with injuries I've had since I've been here, so to get my best record in the same year is pretty special. And getting MVP is sort of the icing on the cake because that wasn't something I was expecting. So, it's extremely special," he said.
𝓜.𝓥.𝓟. 👏👏👏
— Montana Griz Men's Tennis 🎾 (@MontanaGrizMTEN) May 9, 2022
What a season for @EdPudney, who caps his career as the #BigSkyTennis MVP - just the second in UM history!#GoGriz #GrizMTEN pic.twitter.com/xygDcP5xsK
With the Grizzlies spending seven weeks this season in the national rankings for the first time in program history, it took a team effort to get them there.
Stoeger won his last eight matches of the season to remain undefeated at 7-0 in conference play and finish at 11-3 in the spring duals season.
"Moritz made a huge step up. He didn't have a great fall and was pretty frustrated, but he's a really hard worker, and it showed. Some things clicked for him, and he built some confidence and got rolling. He started believing no one could beat him, and he proved it," said Brown.
Shaffrey earned an all-conference honorable mention in singles to cap his stellar career. He was named the 2022 Grizzly Cup winner for Montana's top overall student-athlete in April after posting a 19-5 overall record in Big Sky play, having won 15-straight league matches between 2019 and 2022.
Sciglitano, a junior, also picked up an honorable mention in his first year as a Grizzly going 6-2 in conference play and 12-4 overall.
"Lawrence and Oisin both had really nice years against tough opponents at the top of the lineup, and the fact that coaches acknowledge that I think is pretty special," Brown added.
Benn and Theilgaard struck the right chemistry as a doubles pair to earn a second-team honor from the league. The senior/freshman combo had the best record in the league on court three doubles at 5-2 while impressing at 12-3 in dual action this spring.
"They just didn't lose. Our doubles sort of struggled down the stretch, and they were the ones we knew were getting it done every week. I think Gustav played amazing doubles, and Milo gelled really well with him. It was nice to see that freshman/senior combo have a real impact," said Brown.
Despite losing four seniors in Pudney, Shaffrey, Benn, and Pontus Hallgren, Montana will look to build on the momentum of 2022's historic season. And with three all-conference performers returning, Brown thinks the Griz are poised to do just that.
"It's really tough to have the MVP graduate and to think we're still going to be solid. But the thing I take away from this is we have a freshman, a sophomore, and a junior all getting some form of accolade. Those guys have learned so much from Ed and the other seniors, and I think they're ready to take the reins."
2022 Big Sky Men's Tennis Individual Awards
Coach of the Year: Trey Morris (Montana State)
Most Valuable Player: Ed Pudney (Montana)
Freshman of the Year: Francisco Gay (Idaho)
All-Big Sky Singles
First Team
Francisco Bascon (Idaho)*
Ed Pudney (Montana)*
Mark Keki (Sacramento State)
Matej Panik (Montana State)
Patrik Trhac (Idaho State)
Sebastian Buxman (Weber State)
* - Unanimous first-team selection
Second Team
Eban Straker-Meads (NAU)
Matteo Masala (Idaho)
Moritz Stoeger (Montana)
Patrick Kristensen (Idaho State)
Dominik Buzonics (NAU)
Joaquin Espinoza (Montana State)
Honorable Mention
Lawrence Sciglitano (Montana)
Jamieson Nathan (Montana State)
Oisin Shaffrey (Montana)
All-Big Sky Doubles
First Team
Keki/Voros (Sacramento State)
Trhac/Petrovic (Idaho State)
Nathan/Panik (Montana State)
Second Team
Buzonics/Groves (NAU)
Straker-Meads/Tumosa (NAU)
Theilgaard/Benn (Montana)
Honorable Mention
Gay/Duron (Idaho)
Bascon/Casino (Idaho)
Players Mentioned
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