Coach Macom Presents 2023 Recruiting Class

SAN ANTONIO – Replacing some of the best student-athletes in school history is no easy task, but that was the one set in front of St. Mary's Director of Tennis Coach Bill Macom this season.
 
Macom hit the recruiting trail and added a trio of women and a trio of men along with a team manager for the 2023-24 season.
 
The Rattlers signed Selina Wu (signing story) earlier in the spring to an NLI and adds transfers Katrina Berban and Paula Garrote to the mix for the women's squad.
 
Berban returns to the San Antonio area as a graduate of New Braunfels HS. She spent 2019-20 at Anderson (Ind.) where she was a perfect 14-0 at number one singles and 13-3 at number one doubles, earning both Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Freshman and Player of the Year honors. She transferred to William Woods, sitting out the 2020-21 campaign and competing in one tournament during the fall of the 2021-22 season where she was 1-1 in singles and 2-1 in doubles.
 
"We are expecting Katrina to add depth to the lineup and add some experience to the team," said Coach Macom.
 
Garrote played two years at Abilene Christian, earning WAC All-Tournament honors as a freshman in 2021. Last season, she was 2-4 in singles play, all at No. 6 and 1-2 in doubles action. As a freshman she won five singles matches and had three WAC victories. She graduated in 2021 from La Sagrada Familia Maristas in Cartagena, Spain.
 
"We are expecting Paula to be an impact player for us," Macom stated. "She has a few years of college experience performing at a high level, so this should be an easy transition for her this fall."
 
On the men's side, Rattler fans should recognize the name Louis Hein as he is the younger brother of former player Leon Hein (2019-21). He, transfer Leonardo Fabbri and freshman Marcelo Benavides are expected push the talent of the men's team.
 
Hein hails from Hamburg, Germany, however he graduated from Hilton Head Prep in South Carolina, winning the high school state championship in 2023 with an undefeated record. 
 
"Louis can hit for power and control and has a solid all court game," Macom said. "I know he's been training hard all summer, so I anticipate he'll be ready for our fall tournament schedule."
 
Fabbri spent the 2022-23 season at Eastern Kentucky, redshirting with the Colonels. He matriculated from Liceo Torricelli-Ballardini in Faenza, Italy
 
"Leonardo didn't see any playing time last season at DI EKU, but he has the talent to play high in our lineup," said Macom.

Benavides joins the Rattlers from the IMG Academy in Florida, but is originally from Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.

"Marcelo has a (rating) that should immediately translate to being competitive in our lineup," Macom stated. 
 
Macom is also excited to announce Joseph Pirro III will act as the manager of both teams. Pirro graduated summa cum laude from Central Catholic in San Antonio, earning four letters in tennis, two in football and one in lacrosse.
 
"I look forward to mentoring Joseph as he'll be filling a team manager role for us," Macom commented. "He has varsity tennis experience and will bring a lot of team spirit to our squad."