Eastern Wayne Today

Cedric Drenth, a senior tennis player at Wayne State University (WSU), has been making waves in the world of college tennis. Born in France and raised in Germany, Drenth found his passion for tennis at an early age. He competed in his first German Championship at just 12 years old.

Faced with the decision to pursue tennis professionally or continue his education, Drenth chose to attend WSU, thanks to encouragement from former teammate Daniel Grey and head coach Bryan Morrow. "We were just close friends, and he put me in touch with the head coach. I really liked what he had to offer," Drenth explained about his choice to join Wayne State.

Drenth's career at WSU has been marked by significant achievements. As a freshman, he was named an ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete and earned a No. 1 doubles ranking with Grey in the ITA Midwest Regional rankings. His sophomore year saw him being named WSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year and achieving a 10th-place national ranking in singles by the ITA.

Coach Morrow praised Drenth's dedication: "He is the most competitive person in everything he does, add being the hardest worker and a willingness to learn and you have someone who is a high achiever at everything."

Beyond tennis, Drenth excels academically as a finance major, consistently making the Athletic Directors Honor Roll with impressive GPAs. He attributes this balance to his upbringing: "I was raised by my parents knowing that academics are important as well."

As he nears the end of his collegiate career, Drenth aims to lead WSU's men's tennis team to nationals once more. Reflecting on his journey, he states humorously that he's achieved most of what can be accomplished in college tennis but still hopes for more success at nationals.

Looking ahead, Drenth plans to stay in Detroit over the summer coaching tennis while contemplating whether to pursue professional opportunities. Whatever path he chooses, his impact on Wayne State's program remains significant.