M. Tennis Adds Two Transfers to 2018 Recruiting Class
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head men’s tennis coach Aljosa Piric announced Wednesday the addition of two 2018 transfer student-athletes.
The Hurricanes have added Florida transfer Stephen Madonia and Nebraska transfer William Grattan-Smith to a recruiting class that already was ranked sixth by the Tennis Recruiting Network on May 28, 2018, featuring freshmen Franco David Aubone, Francisco Bastias and Kaya Gore.
“We are so excited to welcome William and Stephen to our program. They come from very good schools, very good programs, and they have a lot of college experience,” Piric said. “We believe that they are a perfect fit for us. Their work ethic, as well as their desire to improve and be a part of good team, is exciting for us.”
A 5-foot-10-inch junior from Bradenton, Fla., Madonia joins the Hurricanes after spending two seasons at UF. As a sophomore, he competed in the fall going 2-2 in the ITA All-American Championships.
Prior to his time at UF, Madonia was a two-time Florida state doubles champion, who ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in his class on Tennis Recruiting Ratings. He reached the USA F18 Futures Doubles Final with Jordi Arconada, the USA F25 Futures Doubles Quarterfinal round with Aron Hiltzik and advanced to the singles Round of 16 at the Dominican Republic F2 Futures.
A 6-foot-2-inch right-hander from Atlanta, Ga., Grattan-Smith enters his sophomore season with Miami after spending his freshman year at Nebraska.
Playing most of his matches from the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, Grattan-Smith started his dual-match collegiate career riding a six-match win streak before concluding spring play at 8-12.
Grattan-Smith’s best match of the season took place on March 25 when the Huskers faced off against No. 35 Minnesota. He was the only Nebraska player to win a match that afternoon, beating Vlad Locak in three sets (6-4, 1-6, 10-7) at the No. 5 position.
Prior to Nebraska, the native of Atlanta, Ga., ranked as high as No. 94 in the 2017 recruiting class. In 2015, Grattan-Smith reached the round of 16 at the UTSA Boys 16 and Under Hard Court National Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich. He led the Atlanta International School to its first state semifinal berth in 2016. He only lost two high school matches his entire career and was ranked in the top 20 in the Southern Section throughout his playing career from 12U through 18U.
The newcomers join a Miami roster that returns five student-athletes that guided the Hurricanes to a 15-13 overall record and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance and victory since 2011.
