Super senior graduate students Carlos Berna and Lucas Wayenburg are nationally ranked No. 36, the highest ranking in program history for men’s tennis.

During this season, they have accumulated four doubles wins with an opening of a 6-4 win over the University of Central Florida. Wayenburg and Berna played the doubles team without knowing their opponents were ranked No. 20 in the nation.

For both, it was a very memorable moment since it was the first game of the season, but they remained humble after receiving this title. “I don’t expect more of myself because I try to give my best on the court,” Berna said.

When they step on the court now, they have to know who they are up against because both teams always want to win.

“I think inside of us we did expect to, you know, to be like, ‘okay now we are ranked,’ Wayenburg said. “Now we have this, kind of, pressure.”

The duo was on the same page when it came to the match. There is an immense amount of pressure on the doubles team, but throughout it all, their priority is to stay focused on the court.

Looking ahead to their futures after Coastal Carolina University, they both have different outlooks in terms of careers.

I mean for me, I am going to keep playing tennis after this. It is not the end of my career. I still want to play tennis. I want my parents to come to the tournaments,” Berna said.

Berna loves to play in tournaments and will still love to do it even after he leaves Coastal. Even though tennis can be expensive and requires a lot of travel, playing on a collegiate level pays off in the end for him, but Wayenburg cannot say the same.

“My brother is doing it, so I’ve seen what it takes and what you need to do,” Wayenburg said. “So, I don’t believe I have what it takes to play professionally because when you play professionally, it means everything and nothing at the same time.”