Evan Bechtel, a St. John's Jesuit graduate who was last year's Ohio Division I state singles champion, has signed a letter of intent to play tennis at Southern Methodist.
Bechtel picked the Conference USA school over Ohio State, Michigan State, Wake Forest, and Miami (Fla.).
"I just felt it was a really good fit for me overall," he said. "They have good academics, a good tennis team, and the coach had been recruiting me before my ranking started going up. I had a lot of respect for him doing that."
Bechtel delayed enrollment in college for one year to train at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
At SMU he will be guided by Carl Neufeld, who entered this season ranked 10th among active coaches in wins with 508. The Mustangs, who will transition to the Big East in 2013, suffered their first losing season since 1993, finishing 9-12.
First Published May 12, 2012, 4:42 a.m.