BEAUMONT, Texas – The recent decisions to cancel the remainder of the 2020 spring athletics schedule has left a void for sports fans across the country. LamarCardinals.com thought it would be a great time to take a look back at some of the great moments, athletes and coaches that have helped Lamar University stand out in the competition arena. Over the course of the coming days and weeks, LamarCardinals.com will be posting stories – in no particular order – reliving some of these great moments.
   
One of the original powerhouses in the Southland Conference, the Lamar University men's tennis team went on a dominant run through the mid-1970s by which future Cardinals would be judged. Led by LU Hall of Honor head coach, Ron Wesbrooks, the Cardinals rattled off four consecutive Southland Conference regular season titles, while posting a near perfect 14-1 (.933) conference record.
 
Big Red's success didn't just come within the conference, posting 49 overall wins during that stretch. Wesbrooks' teams racked up numerous non-conference wins during that time against teams that included UL Lafayette, Memphis, Texas Tech, North Texas, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.
 
Several Cardinals were recognized for their success on the court under Wesbrooks' guidance. Big Red had three conference singles champions during that time, and three league double champions. Individuals Luis Baraldi (1973), Gerry Gomes (1974) and Carlos Lopez (1976) all earned first-team All-Southland honors in singles competition, while Gomes and Rod Hernandez (1973 and 1974) and Lopez and Joe Antle (1976) receive first-team accolades on the doubles courts.
 
Wesbrooks would go on to receive SLC Coach of the Year honors all four seasons, marking the only time in program history that a Cardinals' tennis coach received the honor in four consecutive years. Wesbrooks would go on to be inducted in the Cardinals Hall of Honor in 2016.
 
Please continue to check back with LamarCardinals.com as we continue to update Great Moments in Cardinals History.