BEAUMONT, Texas – Just weeks after winning the 2022 Western Athletic Conference regular-season title, Lamar University has bolstered its future lineup with the additions of Joan Crespo (Oberderdingen, Germany), Gustav Hasslegren (Stockholm, Sweden) and Elias Peter (Alzey, Germany).
 
"We've very excited about the additions of Joan, Gustav and Elias," said Shankles, the 2022 WAC Coach of the Year. "We have landed three very talented individuals who bring a wealth experience with them to Beaumont. All three are very versatile players who will have an immediate impact on a strong nucleus of returning players."
 
Crespo is one of two incoming recruits originally from Germany. Posting a UTR ranking just under 11, Crespo is currently one of the top 400 players in Germany, climbing as high as 350 in his young career. Crespo makes his way to the Golden Triangle after an impressive victory over the No. 3 ranked player in Germany.
 
Crespo's country man – Elias – enters his collegiate career with a slightly higher UTR ranking with an 11.62. Elias is currently ranked among his nation's top 140 tennis players.
 
Hasslegren comes to the Golden Triangle after playing for one of the top clubs in Europe – Nasbyparks Tennis Club. Ranked among the top eight players in Swedish national rankings (11.76 UTR), Hasslegren was a 2021 silver medalist at the U18 Swedish National Championships. He would go on to win the U18 doubles title at the Bastad Core Cup that same season. Hasslegren's talent was visible at an early age as he won the Swedish U16 regional championship in 2018.
 
The trio will look to build on an impressive 2022 campaign that saw the Red and White win the Western Athletic Conference regular season title posting a 17-8 (.680) overall record and a perfect 6-0 mark in league play. Big Red was ranked fourth in the preseason poll in their first year in the league before running through the league schedule untouched.