UMKC Hall of Fame Spotlight - Angelo Vasilescu
1/21/2010 10:00:00 AM | General, Athletics
Angelo Vasilescu is the seventh and final inductee into the UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame. The Edmonton, Alberta, native was a three-year letterwinner and three-time first team all-conference selection for the Kangaroos, where he guided the team to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Angelo was the No. 1 player on our team for two of his three years with the program," said Carla Wilson, Sr. Associate Athletics Director, who worked as the business manager at UMKC when Vasilescu was a student-athlete. "He definitely was the go to guy on our team that was counted on to win matches at the top of the line-up."
And winning matches is what Vasilescu did when he transferred to UMKC from the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) following his freshman season. When Vasilescu became a 'Roo, he stepped into the line-up during the 1998-99 season and posted a 13-5 singles record and a 15-5 doubles mark while teaming with Craig Gansen. Vasilescu guided his squad to the 1999 Mid-Con regular season and Mid-Con Tournament title, which led to the men's tennis team earning its first NCAA Tournament berth in school history - a 4-0 loss at Southern California.
At the conclusion of the season, Vasilescu was selected as a First Team all-Mid-Con selection as well as being named the Mid-Con Newcomer and Mid-Con Player of the Year. Vasilescu is one of just two UMKC players to ever receive both awards in the same season.
In Vasilescu's second year in Blue and Gold, he led UMKC to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, as the squad dropped a 4-0 decision at UCLA. The Canadian finished the year with eight wins at the No. 2 through No. 4 positions, four of which came in Mid-Con play. Overall, Vasilescu helped the 'Roos to their second straight winning season, finishing 12-11 overall and a perfect 6-0 regular season conference record. As a result, Vasilescu earned his second straight first team all-league nod.
In 2000-01, Vasilescu closed out his UMKC career by posting a 6-6 record in both singles and doubles. As a team, the 'Roos finished with a 7-7 overall record and a 5-1 mark in conference play to finish as the regular season runner-up. UMKC then advanced to the final of the Mid-Con Tournament before falling 4-0 to Oral Roberts with a berth to its third straight NCAA Tournament on the line. Vasilescu ended his career with his third straight first team nod, as he became just the second 'Roo to accomplish the feat.
Academically, Vasilescu was also twice named to the Mid-Con Academic all-Conference team, as he received the honor in 2000 and 2001. Â
Vasilescu graduated from UMKC in 2001 with an arts and sciences degree and is currently a lawyer in Atlanta.
The UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Jan. 22 at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City.
(This is the seventh and final piece in a seven-part series featuring the 2009 UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame class.)
Hall of Fame Features Dee Dee Johnson (Fortman) - Women's Track & Field Michael Jackson - Men's Basketball Julie (Nill) Wilson - Women's Basketball Amanda Rice - Softball Bill Ross - Former Head Men's Basketball/Men's Golf Coach Victor Swyden - Supporter/Friend of Program