Broncs Diary: Young Aussie makes good start in Texas

EDINBURG - At 18, Marcus Dornauf left Australia to play tennis and be educated at the University of Texas-Pan American.

Now 19, older and wiser, he earned all-conference second team honors. Playing No. 6 singles, Dornauf won 63 percent of his matches, the team's best average.

The freshman from Tasmania has a strong Aussie accent. "My professors understand me, but some friends stare at me and just smile," he said. I do mumble a bit, so people don't understand me. I understand American because the movies and TV celebrities taught me."

South Texas weather isn't as hot as Tasmania, where he says, "If it is 100 here, the wind blows and cools you. In Australia 100 is burning heat from the hole in the ozone layer. There is no wind to cool you. But the Texas wind is tough to play in."

After beating Matt Gower, an Enlglishman who starred four tennis years at UTPA, Dornauf decided to follow his path. Gower now lives in Australia. 

Dornauf was the No. 1 player in Tasmania and faced many state champions.

"Most college players in America are foreign," he said. "I know about 20 of the top 18's in Australia. They play in the U.S. now. One of my best friends is at Penn State. I was nervous flying over here. I never had left Australia. I was 18 then. Now I'm adjusted. I've met tennis players from Mexico, India, France, all over. All of them speak English. My name is German but we have been English in Australia for generations."

Broncs' rally falls short in wild game

GREELEY, Colo. - The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs fought Northern Colorado to a 12-12 tie after trailing 7-0 Saturday but finally lost a wild baseball slugfest to the Bears, 23-15.

Andrew Perez hit the only homer for UTPA (17-30), while Jordan Rutenbar collected six RBIs on three hits. Jeremy Johnson and Bonham Hough also nailed three hits each.

Four UTPA pitchers gave up 26 hits and nine walks.