TEMPE, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the 2017 Junior and Community Colleges national and regional women’s award winners on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
The 2017 Junior and Community College’s men’s national award winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 16, 2017.
NATIONAL WINNERS
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Dale White, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
White is now completing his fourth year as head coach and has compiled a record of 32-25, while mostly playing four-year institutions. This year’s team is 10-5 and the Fillies are currently ranked No. 5 in the country. ABAC has defeated Seward, Eastern Florida, Central Alabama, Meridian, Georgia Southwestern, Coastal Georgia, Middle Georgia and Huntingdon College. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, White is ABAC’s Instructor of Physical Education.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Kimm Ketelsen, Tyler Junior College
Ketelsen has continuously brought an environment of toughness to his teams in practice and in matches. He communicates with patience and passion, and has helped the women’s team collect an 18-0 record to date.
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award: Clarisa Colling, Orange Coast College
Colling has been Orange Coast’s leader and team captain the last two years. Not only does she lead on the court, successfully competing at No. 1 singles and doubles, but she also leads by example in the classroom with a strong GPA. She was the team’s Most Valuable Player each of the past two seasons. In addition, she helped guide the team to the CCCAA Scholar Team Award, by attaining the highest combined point total among all women’s tennis programs in the state of California with regards to team GPA and athletic performance. This was accomplished with the women’s team achieving a 3.39 team GPA and 13-3 record on the courts.
ITA Rookie of the Year: Jasmine Asghar, Tyler Junior College
Asghar finished third in singles and doubles at the 2016 ITA Oracle Cup. She has a 19-4 record in singles and 23-2 in doubles, and has only lost once in singles and hasn’t lost in doubles all spring, while playing at the No. 1 position in both.
ITA Player to Watch: Yuna Ito, Tyler Junior College
After starting school in January, Ito has gone 15-0 in singles at the No. 4 and 5 positions, and 16-0 at No. 1 doubles. She did not drop a single set this season.
ITA Most Improved Sophomore: Taylor Miller, Meridian Community College
Miller was a No. 6 singles player and No. 3 doubles player her freshman year, with a 32-2 singles record and 19-3 doubles record. She worked hard to move up to No. 4 in singles, and while she’s battled through a partial ACL and meniscus tear since her team’s first match in February, managed to post a 16-5 record in singles and 15-10 in doubles.
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year: Emily Chang, ASA Miami
Chang has an 18-4 record in singles and 13-4 in doubles. She finished last year ranked No. 4 in singles, and she’s currently No. 20 in singles and No. 6 in doubles. Chang is the team’s captain and someone her teammates look to for energy and leadership.
ITA Community Service Award: Meridian Community College
The women’s team has been active in the community, volunteering over 120 hours during the 2016-17 academic year. In addition, several players helped with blood drives, volunteered as youth group leaders at local churches and delivered items during Thanksgiving and Christmas to families in need.
REGIONAL WINNERS
REGION I
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Chris Ketcham, Orange Coast College
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Akhom Inthavong, Fullterton College
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award: Clarisa Colling, Orange Coast College
ITA Rookie of the Year: Petra Such, Cerritos College
ITA Player to Watch: Viktoriya Lavor, American River College
ITA Most Improved Sophomore: Karen Trinh, Orange Coast College
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year: Mayra Jovic, Santa Monica College
ITA Community Service Award: San Diego City College
REGION II
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Brian Waddell, North Central Texas College
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Kimm Ketelsen, Tyler Junior College
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award: Rebekah Larson, Eastern Arizona College
ITA Rookie of the Year: Jasmine Asghar, Tyler Junior College
ITA Player to Watch: Yuna Ito, Tyler Junior College
ITA Most Improved Sophomore: Viktoria Seifert, Seminole State
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year: Montana Moore, Tyler Junior College
ITA Community Service Award: Eastern Arizona College
REGION III
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Gary Bourgeois, Mississippi Gulf Coast College
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Chase Ashley, Seward County CC
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award: Kyra Holway, Meridian Community College
ITA Rookie of the Year: Neus Torrregrosa, Barton Community College
ITA Player to Watch: Martina Borges, Seward County CC
ITA Most Improved Sophomore: Taylor Miller, Meridian Community College
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year: Sarah Frendo, Cowley Community College
ITA Community Service Award: Meridian Community College
REGION IV
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Dale White, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
ITA Rookie of the Year: Celia Morel, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
ITA Player to Watch: Yuliana Monroy, ASA Miami
ITA Most Improved Sophomore: Ghita Nassik, ASA Miami
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year: Emily Chang, ASA Miami