All-American Monday - John Eagleton

John Eagleton (1976-77)

Coral Gables, Fla. – CoachDale Lewis described him as a “player with the potential to become another PatCramer.” South African native John Eagleton came to the University of Miami as a decorated tennis player. In 1973, Eagleton was the South African JuniorChampion, represented South Africa in the Forest Hills juniors, was a member ofthe South African Sunshine Cup team which lost in the finals to the UnitedStates, and reached the round of 16 in the Orange Bowl Junior tournament. Thefollowing year, Eagleton was a finalist in the Key Biscayne juniorinternational meet. As a winner of the major junior title in his nativecountry, Eagleton shined as a Hurricane.

In the 1973-74 season, his freshman year, Eagleton, on theway to an 18-2 singles record, opened the season with 14 consecutive wins.Playing primarily out of the No. position, Eagleton had Miami’s best dualsingles season record (16-1). Eagleton advanced to the fourth round of singlesplay in the NCAA tournament. Showing his versatility, Eagleton posted a 16-2mark in doubles. After dropping his first match, Eagleton reeled off 13consecutive victories. Eagleton’s appearance on the doubles side of the NCAAtournament ended in the quarterfinals after losing a bitter three-set match offinal service tie-breaker point at the hands of eventual champions JohnWhitlinger and Jim Delany of Stanford.

Building off his freshman success, Eagleton posted a 20-4(S) and 25-2 (D) mark in competition. Eagleton opened his sophomore season indoubles the way he closed out the regular season – 15 straight victories.Dating back to that season, Eagleton won 28 consecutive regular season matches.For the second consecutive season, Eagleton advanced to the fourth round ofsingles play in the NCAA tournament. In doubles, Eagleton one-upped himself andadvanced to the semifinals of the 1975 NCAA tournament.    

After starting his Hurricane career in the No. 3 position,Eagleton was moved up to the No. 1 position and didn’t disappoint. From the topspot, Eagleton posted a 15-4 singles mark, On his way to a 21-3 doubles mark,Eagleton opened the season with a nine-match win streak. Despite winning hisfirst round match-up, Eagleton was forced to withdraw from the NCAA tournamentdue to his torn ankle cartilage – an injury he suffered the week before thetournament was to begin.

Eagleton kept up his impressive play until the day he leftthe Coral Gables campus. As a senior, he posted a 19-7 singles mark whichincluded a 12 match win streak. In doubles play, Eagleton went 23-3 with both aseven-match win streak, which he opened the season with, and a 10-match win streak.

Eagleton finished his Hurricane career with 157(72 in singles and 85 in doubles) combined victories. In 1975, Eagletondefeated former Hurricane and All-American Joaqium Rasgado in a straight setfinal to capture the Citrus Bowl Championship at Vero Beach. That same year, hereached the semi-finals of the Forest Hill, N.Y., All-Star Tournament. In 1976,in defense of his crown, Eagleton fell in the semi-finals of the Citrus BowlChampionship.