MOUNT VERNON –  The Midwest Conferece announced its Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll on Friday morning. The Rams were picked third with 26 points, following Grinnell College (36 points) in first, and Lake Forest College (31 points) in second. 

Cornell's men's tennis team has racked up 33 dual wins since the fall of 2024, the most in a two-year stretch in program history.

"It is no longer the new-era of Cornell Tennis," 5th year head coach Trent Schneider said. "All the work by the players, coaches, and supporting staff have brought us to where we are now over the past four years. This is the deepest and most competitive team I have had, and I am really looking forward to seeing the growth and improvement over these next three months."

The Rams are projected to qualify for the four-team MWC Tournament for the seventh consecutive season.
 
Schneider's squad welcomes back five starters from last year's 16-9 finish during which the Rams took third in the MWC with a 4-2 mark for the third consecutive year.

"We didn't lose much from last year, and added on a stellar first-year class with four new guys," Schneider said. "A year ago, we had to fill some big shoes at the top of the lineup and we were a lot younger. Now, we are a veteran group who will get the toughest schedule the team has seen this decade."
 
The Rams are led by three upperclassmen in senior Zachary Ong, and juniors Trent Devore and Mills Arnold. The trio has played more than 400 matches combined in their careers. Ong is just four wins shy of reaching the 100 career win milestone. Devore and Arnold were both All-MWC selections in 2025. 

Sophomores Drew Campbell and Sam Cumicek join the upperclassmen as returning starters from last years team, both collecting 30 and 22 wins respectively in their rookie campaigns. 

"We still may not be the eldest team out there, but we have a returning group with a lot of experience to their name," Schneider said. "Rounding out our returning group, both Eric Dirksmeyer and Benett Gregor have gained a lot of match experience over the past year and a half as well, and the entire team is going to be needed throughout the course of the spring. It is a fun schedule ahead."
 
Schneider will count on several first-year players to contribute, as Matthew Oshiro, Jack Saunders, Henry Lambley and Gavin Collyott enter their first collegiate spring seasons. 
 
"The deepest and most competitive team I have had, I am really excited to see our new guys fit into the mold of a veteran returning group, and put together a tough and special spring."
 
The Rams compete against three schools who finished the 2025 season nationally ranked in Carthage College (44), Grinnell College (54) and Coe College (73). Cornell has 10 home meets scheduled this spring, including a spring break trip to Orlando, Fla. MWC play begins April 4th against Lawrence University and Ripon College in Wisconsin. The MWC Team Tournament is April 24, followed by the MWC Individual Championships on April 25-26. 
 
Cornell hosts a double dual on the opening Saturday, Jan 31, with Martin Luther at 9 a.m. and Loras at 4 p.m. in the arena of the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.