Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

As A Junior in 2012-13:  Captured the 2012 ITA/NAIA national singles title with a three-set (7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (4)) defeat of Auburn Montgomery’s Nicolas Pinones, becoming the third ERAU men’s tennis player to win a national championship in singles…NAIA first team All-American…NAIA Scholar-Athlete…Academic All-Conference…named to the ERAU Athletics President’s team, which recognizes student-athletes with a 3.5 or better GPA for the academic year…missed most of the spring season due to injury…posted a 10-2 singles record…topped teammate Chris Freeman to claim the ITA Florida regional crown…posted a 14-4 mark in doubles play, including an 8-1 ledger in tandem with Simon Felix…the duo captured the USTA/ITA Regional crown before closing out the fall with a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Pinones and Tim Hewitt in the title match of the ITA/NAIA national doubles championship.
 
As a Sophomore in 2011-12: NAIA first team All-American…first team All-Conference selection…also named to the ITA All-America team…earned Academic All-Conference honors thanks to his 3.60 GPA in Business Administration…Capital One College Division Academic All-America first team selection…played all but one match at the No. 2 spot, compiling a 13-6 singles record and earning the No. 9 spot in the final national singles rankings…earned Sun Conference Player of the Week honors on Apr. 9…topped Daniel Schmidt of NCAA II No. 2 Barry 6-1, 6-3 (Feb. 5)…defeated eighth-ranked Martin Poboril of No. 3 Oklahoma Christian in three sets 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 (Mar. 21)…was 5-0 in conference play…partnered with Adrian Bayh to compile a 24-5 doubles record…the duo spent the entire season at the top of the national doubles rankings…defeated No. 3 Oklahoma Christian’s Bruno Tiberti and Martin Poboril in the semifinals of the NAIA National championship (May 18), avenging an 8-6 loss to the pair earlier in the season. Fall 2011: Posted a 1-1 record in singles play with his only win coming against Florida Southern’s Ivan Marevic (6-4, 6-4) at the ERAU Open (Sept. 16-18)… teamed up with Adrian Bayh for an 8-1 mark in doubles play…the duo won the USTA/ITA Florida Regional and went on to claim the program’s second USTA/ITA National doubles title with a dramatic come-from-behind win (6-7, 7-6, 6-4) over Fresno Pacific’s Cledson Caravalho and Nathan Martinet (Oct. 16).
 
As A Freshman in 2010-11: Second team All-American…first team All-Conference selection…finished at 9-8 in singles play after joining the Eagle lineup in the spring…had a 3-0 record in league play…played most of his matches at the No. 2 spot where he was 7-6…topped fourth-ranked Bence Toth of No. 2 Auburn Montgomery 6-4, 7-6 (Mar. 14)…pulled out a three-set victory over Claudio Romano (6-7, 6-4, 7-6) to clinch the Eagles’ first-ever victory over NCAA Division I Central Florida (Apr. 13)…also scored the clinchers against Florida Tech (Feb. 6) and Webber International (Apr. 6 and Apr. 15)….compiled a 16-7 doubles record, including an 11-2 mark in tandem with Adrian Bayh…. Bayh and Besch were ranked No. 15 in the final national doubles poll of 2011 and owned a seven-match winning streak from Mar. 14 – Apr. 6…Besch and Bayh fought back from a 5-2 deficit to top Fresno Pacific’s Cledson Caravalho and Jaime Canamares in the Eagles’ National Championship match (May 21).
 
Prep: Graduated from IGS Brezenheim in 2009…attained a Top-50 junior tennis ranking in Germany…advanced to the third round of the 2009 Germany F7 Futures tournament.
 
Personal: Born in Mainz, Germany on May 10, 1989…parents are Eckhard and Marlies Besch…majoring in Business Administration.