Men’s Tennis: Three Players Receive End-of-Year Honors

Jake Fearnley, Luc Fomba, and Jack Pinnington all receive ITA accolades after a record-setting season.

Twitter: @TCUMensTennis

After an incredible season that saw the TCU Men's Tennis team win their second consecutive ITA Indoor National Championship and then finish in the NCAA's Final Four, the program's highest finish, three of its stars are taking home end-of-year honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

Jake Fearnley and Luc Fomba, the nation's No. 4 ranked doubles duo, received All-American honors in doubles. Fearnley also received the honor in singles. For Fomba, it was his third straight year to win the honor in doubles and his fifth All-American title in his career. It was the second straight year for Fomba and Fearnley to receive the honor together in doubles. 

Jack Pinnington was also recognized as the ITA Texas Regional Rookie of the Year. It's the first time a TCU player has received this honor since three-time All-American Cam Norrie received it in 2015.

Fearnley concluded the season with the No. 19 ITA singles ranking to achieve his first-ever singles All-American selection. Fearnley enjoyed a breakout 2022-2023 singles campaign. He anchored the No. 1 singles position for TCU all spring after primarily playing on court four throughout his first three years in Fort Worth. Fearnley produced a 43-14 combined overall record, highlighted by a 26-10 mark in singles, to lead the Horned Frogs in wins both cumulatively and in singles play. 

Of his singles victories, 16 came against ranked opposition. He went on to obtain All-Big 12 first-team honors in both singles and doubles behind a 28-10 combined record in duals. Fearnley capped the year by advancing to the round of 32 in the NCAA Singles Championships in May following TCU's run to the Final Four. 

Fomba became the most decorated All-American and winningest player in TCU's Big 12 era in his final season. His five All-American honors rank third outright in program history and trail only the six selections received by Paul Robinson (1994-1996) and David Pate (1991-1983). He joined Robinson and Pate as one of only three Horned Frogs to be tabbed an ITA doubles All-American three times. 

Fomba finished his college career with a 194-80 combined overall record. Fomba's combined career wins and .741 career singles winning percentage (105-36) both rank ninth in program history and are the best marks of any Big 12-era player. 

Fomba and Fearnley repeated as doubles All-Americans after receiving seeded positioning in the NCAA Doubles Championships. The duo produced a 15-4 record as partners. They began the season as the preseason No. 1 doubles pair and ended the dual season with the No. 2 doubles ranking. In indoor play, Fomba and Fearnley clinched the doubles point seven times total and in five of the Horned Frogs' seven ranked wins to lead TCU to its second straight ITA Indoor National Championship.

Pinnington overcame adversity and immeasurable uncertainty on his way to Regional Rookie of the Year recognition. An ATP top-500 player, Pinnington was forced to sit out the entirety of the fall and the first month of the indoor season after being denied immediate eligibility by the NCAA. He made his long-awaited TCU debut on Feb. 8 and promptly became a fixture at the top of TCU's lineup. 

Pinnington, from Ashtead, England, accumulated a 17-7 dual record (9-3 doubles, 8-4 singles) as TCU's primary No. 3 singles and doubles player. He notched six singles victories over ranked opponents and went on to attain All-Big 12 second-team accolades. Pinnington's proficiency in doubles was on full display during Indoor Nationals, as he accumulated a 3-1 record and clinched two doubles points. 

The Horned Frogs concluded the 2023 season with the No. 4 overall team ranking. TCU has finished in the top 10 of the final ITA team rankings for nine consecutive seasons, a streak unmatched by any Division I program. 

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