Tempe, Ariz. — The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its latest Division I Rankings Wednesday, with Wally Thayne and Zach Fuchs ranked No. 35 among all doubles athletes.
Comprised of the top 60 doubles teams nationally, the spot marks the duo’s first appearance together in the national rankings. It also becomes BYU’s first doubles fall ranking since Sam Tullis and Ben Gajardo (No. 42) in 2019.
Thayne and Fuchs concluded their accomplished fall season earlier this month with an 8-3 doubles record, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the ITA Fall National Championships before falling in a tightly-contested match to Ohio State’s Robert Cash and JJ Tracy (7-5, 6-4). Cash and Tracy are now slated at No. 1 in Wednesday’s rankings, having recently won the ITA All-American doubles title.
Thayne and Fuchs also appeared at the ITA All-American Championships after winning the ITA Mountain Region doubles title against Utah’s No. 55-ranked doubles team in September.
Tuesday’s rankings will be the final ITA rankings released in 2023. Team rankings will be released weekly starting on Jan. 3, 2024, consisting of the top 25 programs in the country. Singles and doubles rankings will be released early in dual match play on Feb. 7, 2024.
With the spring season ahead, the Cougars now prepare for Big 12 competition. Seven teams in the conference sponsor men’s tennis in addition to BYU. The conference now boasts seven ranked doubles teams, including five in the top 25.
The Cougars’ first match of the spring season will take place in January, with the detailed schedule to be announced at a later date.