SKILLMAN, N.J. - The ITA has announced its 2011 national award winners for NAIA men's and women's tennis. Highlighting this year's awards are the Wilson/ITA National Coaches of the Year: Chris McMillin, McKendree University (men) and Dave Paschal, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (women) and the ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship: Bartos Micher, Union College (men) and Danielle Calbeck, Biola University(women).
2011 Men's Award Winners:
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year - Chris McMillin, McKendree University (Lebanon, Illinois)
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year - Artsem Burmistrau, Oklahoma Christian University (Minsk, Belarus)
ITA Senior Player of the Year - Remy Caffardo, Graceland University (Romans, France)
ITA Rookie Player of the Year - Aaron Hendrick, Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
ITA Player to Watch - Martin Poboril, Oklahoma Christian University (Pribam, Czech Republic)
ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship - Bartos Micher, Union College(Junginen, Germany)
2011 Women's Award Winners:
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year - Dave Paschal, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, FL)
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year - David Goodman, Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA)
ITA Senior Player of the Year - Kristin Strimple, Point Loma Nazarene University (Carlsbad, CA)
ITA Rookie Player of the Year - Hermon Brhane, Oklahoma Christian University (Dreieich, Germany)
ITA Player to Watch - Ekaterina Kamendova, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Moscow, Russia)
ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship - Danielle Calbeck, Biola University(Walnut Creek, CA)
Chris McMillin, the 2011 Wilson/ITA Men's Coach of the Year, has his men's team on a steady uprise since taking over the reigns in 2008. Last year, his squad improved to 20-5 and made the finals of the AMC Conference Tournament, losing in the finals to Graceland University. The team's performance this year has been even more incredible. McMillan led his team to a 15-2 record and top 20 finish in the Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings. The team's only two losses this year have come at the hands of 5th ranked Division III program, Washington University in two close matches (6-3 and 5-4). In fact, they were even able to record a few wins over Division I opponents. In addition, his players are always exemplary models of sportsmanship, shining examples of what is right in college tennis; competing hard and leaving all they have on the court.
The 2011 Wilson/ITA Women's Coach of the Year also won the award in 2008, but has arguably done just as good a job or better since receiving that honor. Dave Paschal has led both his men's and women's teams to top 12 finishes each and every year during his tenure, the women's squad has improved from a #9 National Ranking in May 2010 to No. 2 in the Campbell/ITA Rankings just one year later. However, it's not just the on-court performance that has this Paschal among the nation's elite, as he is known for holding his players to higher standards on and off the court. His players understand the importance of good sportsmanship and try to displays a positive demeanor at all times.
Bartos Micher, the 2011 Men's Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner, is described by his coach and teammates alike as a father figure to the team and is extremely respected by all of them for the way he leads them on and off the court. This is merely an extension of how this German native conducts himself off the court. An avid local volunteer for area youth, campus and tennis-oriented activities, Micher also provides leadership to his team and classmates when it comes to academics. A member of the Dean's Honor Roll, this junior has maintained a 3.78 GPA through three years, serving a both a tutor and educational role model.
Winner of the 2011 Women's Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, Danielle Calbeck, has been a three-year team representative of Biola's BAM program, a time when athletes gather with the intent of ministering to each other and holding one another accountable. Her coach believe "that's the kind of consistency that the new players need to see." Through BAM, alternative chapel is arranged for both interested athletes and students on campus and in this year's case, focusing on service not only on the Biola campus, but also the surrounding community. In addition to BAM, Calbeck participates in the Event Society at Biola, where a group of students help plan and run events on campus. With volunteer experiences such as serving as an intern for the junior high students in church and creating service opportunities for a group on a San Diego mission trip, this unselfish student-athlete was a natural when given the annual opportunity to work with those suffering from spinal bifida. Biola also hosts an annual Campus Kids Day event, welcoming kids from the community to play with and learn tennis from collegiate athletes. These opportunities are what this Ashe winner looks forward to -- learning how to connect with students and those in need.
For a full list of NAIA Regional award winners, visit www.itatennis.com.
As the governing body of collegiate tennis, the ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, which is comprised of nearly 1,700 men's and women's varsity coaches representing over 1,200 institutions, administers numerous regional and national championships and the Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings for over 20,000 college varsity student-athletes at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior College levels. The ITA also has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership and sportsmanship. The official ITA web site is www.itatennis.com. |
