He may not be the Badgers’ most vocal player, but senior Moritz Baumann definitely left his mark on Wisconsin’s men’s tennis team.

Sitting at No. 22 nationally, and hailing from Inzlingen, Germany, he is a true leader of the Badgers on and off the court. Leading the team as captain and the highest ranked player, Baumann is regarded as a role model by his teammates.

“I think he set records here at UW,” sophomore Patrick Pohlmann said. “Everybody should see him as a role model in Madison because he’s gotten, I think, three times all-Big Ten, he’s going for All-American this year — we don’t know if he’s going to get it, but he’s got a good chance. We definitely should see him as a role model and one person that accomplished a lot for UW and improved our program here as well.”

Since joining the team in 2007, Baumann has been named all-Big Ten three times prior to this season and was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times last season. In the 2007-08 season he was the first Badger to compete in singles in the NCAA championship since 2002.

Assistant coach Evan Austin credits Baumann for revamping the UW tennis program and helping make it the ranked team it is today.

“We just worked hard to get him here and it was a mix of [head coach Greg Van Emburgh] finding him and him saying ‘I want to take a chance on a team that’s not ranked as high,'” Austin said. “He’s been really the main reason why we’ve gotten to where we are and actually having an impact now in the rankings.

“He’s kind of set the tone for what we want in the program. He’s the model for the type of player and the type of kid that we want in the program.”

While helping transform the program, he’s also had an influence on his teammates, especially on the court.

Forming the No. 16 doubles team with Baumann, junior Marek Michalicka noted his effect on the team as a whole.

“I’m glad I’m playing doubles with him. He’s a really good doubles player,” Michalicka said. “We have a lot of fun on the court — most of times, not always. There’s no doubt about it; he’s a really good player, like one of our best — probably the best on the team right now.

“I feel like the team performance also depends on him. Like, he’s team captain, and when he’s ready to go, trying his best, everyone is pumped up (and) ready to go. I wouldn’t say every single match depends on him, but when he’s ready to go and plays his best it affects everybody else and helps us play better.”

There’s no question Baumann is one humble kid. After all he’s done for Wisconsin, he just wants something simple.

“[To be] remembered as a good team player, a guy who always worked hard on the court, and I still have goals to accomplish on my own,” Baumann said.

Despite however humble he may be personally, though, it’s hard not to recognize his talent.

Arguably the team’s best player, there’s one award Baumann is still chasing. Ever since freshman year Baumann has been working toward the highest standard possible — going All-American.

“I think he’s definitely one of the most talented kids in the country — he was when he came in,” Austin said. “The one thing I think he’s been able to do over his four years… he’s gotten a lot more mature, a lot more disciplined with the way he plays tennis, the way he works in practice. I think it definitely has shown in his results over the last year or two. He’s a really good kid out there on the court. He competes hard and does it the right way. If he goes out and plays well and plays confidently, he can beat anyone in the country.

“We have a lot of tennis left, and he has a lot of opportunities left. Anything he sets his mind to do and goes after confidently, then he’ll accomplish it.”

“I just want him to win it because he deserves it,” Michalicka added.

While Baumann noted he’ll miss the competition and just being with his teammates, it was clear he’ll be missed as a competitor and as a leader.

“He’ll definitely be missed,” Austin said. “You don’t replace a guy like that. A guy doesn’t come in and do what he does — especially results-wise — and do what he does and has done as a freshman. Kids like that, they’re not easy to come by. Sometimes you get good players, but they’re not going to be as easy to work with and as coachable as he is. He’s definitely the kind of guy you only get once in awhile so he’s going to be missed a lot.”