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team All-Big Ten selection, while Lindheim added a second-team award. The duo
also finished the season at No. 26 in the national rankings. In 2009, Aumueller was
the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Other Huskers to earn national rankings since 2002 include: Lance Mills (99th,
2002); Florian Preissler (78th, 2003), Adrian Szatmary (78th, 2007; 115th, 2005);
Calin Paar (70th, 2009; 128th, 2008); David Bendheim (67th, 2009); Andre Stenger/
Robert Schulze (44th, 2012).
Arguably one of the program’s greatest upsets came in the spring of 2005, when
McDermott led the Huskers to a win over No. 16 Rice in the first dual match of the
season, which also gave McDermott his 250th career win. Initially unranked as a
team, the win helped push the Huskers into the national polls where they stayed
for 13 weeks, ranking as high as No. 55.
In 2003, Nebraska reeled off a seven-match win streak early in the season behind
Florian Preissler (13 singles wins) and freshman D.J. Geatz (14 singles wins). The
previous season, NU’s Jose Hernan also reached the 14-win total while helping the
team finish with a No. 72 ranking. Hernan’s teammate, Lance Mills, became the first
Husker to qualify for the NCAA singles tournament in a decade, where he advanced to
the second round of the championship. The Omaha native finished the 2002 season
ranked No. 99 in singles play after posting a 1-1 record at the national tournament.
McDermott began his relationship with the NU men’s tennis program as a
player. He competed for the Huskers from 1976 to 1980, and lettered all four years
before playing No. 1 singles as a senior. A native of Grand Island, Neb., McDermott
is married to the former Terrie Wade, also of Grand Island. In his spare time,
McDermott competes in local and state tennis tournaments and is an avid runner
who races competitively.
In 2003, McDermott won the 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs for his age group at
the Cornhusker State Games, and he picked up a bronze medal in the 5-mile road
race. For his accomplishments, McDermott was named the Cornhusker State Games
Male Athlete of the Year. McDermott also earned the National Congress of State
Games Male Athlete of the Year award in 2003, recognizing him for his distance
running achievements and participation in various activities over 20 years at the
Cornhusker State Games. McDermott also serve