KALAMAZOO, Mich. (May 23) – The 2019 ITA NCAA Division III men’s and women’s national award winners were announced at a banquet held in conjunction with the national championships at Stowe Stadium in Kalamazoo, Mich.
The ITA handed out awards in the following categories: Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Player to Watch, ITA Most Improved Senior and Senior Player of the Year.
2019 ITA Award Winners
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year
Men: Ben Lamanna (Brandeis University)
Women: Mike Fried (Wesleyan University)
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Men: George Rivers (Trinity University)
Women: Barbora Krtickova (Emory University)
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Men: Julian Gordy (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges)
Women: Mary Hill (Whitman College)
ITA Rookie of the Year
Men: Noah Lilienthal (Wesleyan University)
Women: Danna Taylor (Carnegie Mellon University)
ITA Player to Watch
Men: Jack Katzman (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges)
Women: Heather Boehm (Middlebury College)
ITA Most Improved Senior
Men: Patrick Whaling (Gustavus Adolphus College)
Women: Leah Bush (Williams College)
ITA Senior Player of the Year
Men: Jonathan Jemison (Emory University)
Women: Victoria Yu (Wesleyan University)
The Following are capsules on each award recipient.
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year
Ben Lamanna (Brandeis University)
In his 14th season as the head coach at Brandeis University, Ben Lamanna guided the Judges to a 16-4 record and wins over nine nationally-ranked teams. All four of the team’s losses came to top 10 programs. Brandeis is ranked No. 10 in the current ITA national rankings. A highlight of the season came at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla. when Brandeis advanced to the finals where it fell to No. 3 Emory.
Mike Fried (Wesleyan University)
In his seventh season leading the Wesleyan University women’s tennis program, head coach Mike Fried has led the Cardinals to a 13-2 overall record, including an 8-1 mark in NESCAC play. The team’s second-place finish in conference play was a program-best. The Cardinals’ No. 4 national ranking ties for the best in program history. Wesleyan has advanced to the semifinals of this year’s NCAA Championship.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
George Rivers (Trinity University)
George Rivers is in his fourth season at Trinity University and has helped the Tigers to a 17-10 overall record, capture a 10th consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) title and advance to the third round of the NCAA Championship. Trinity is ranked No. 13 in the current ITA national rankings.
Barbora Krtickova (Emory University)
Barbora Krtickova has been a key figure in the success of the Emory women’s tennis team, helping lead the program to four NCAA Championship finals and a national title in 2016. In 2019, Krtickova has been instrumental in helping Emory to a 20-3 record heading into the NCAA Tournament semifinals.
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Julian Gordy (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges)
Senior Julian Gordy has compiled a 59-20 singles record and 91-42 doubles mark during his career. A two-time team captain, he is currently 20-9 on the season. Ranked regionally in singles and doubles play, Gordy was honored with the Hank Krieger Award for academic, athletic, and leadership excellence among all CMS student-athletes. He also led the team’s community involvement, and in 2018 CMS received the ITA Community Service Award.
Mary Hill (Whitman College)
Senior Mary Hill has been a leader on and off the court for Whitman College. On the court, she has registered a 12-4 singles record while playing at No. 2 and accumulated a 16-2 mark as part of Blues’ No. 1 doubles team. Ranked No. 6 nationally, Hill teamed with Andrea Gu to capture the 2018 Fall ITA Northwest Regional doubles title. She has a career record of 128-64 and is ranked No. 50 nationally. Hill has posted a 22-3 doubles record and 14-3 singles mark during her senior campaign. Holding a 3.9 grade-point average as a political science and religious studies major, Hill is a two-time ITA and Northwest Conference Scholar-Athlete. Additionally, she serves as her team’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative. Hill has received the Mu Chapter Lamp of Knowledge Award for achieving a 4.0 semester GPA. She has held several internships including interning on the Elder Abuse Task Force with the Iowa Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.
ITA Rookie of the Year
Noah Lilienthal (Wesleyan University)
Noah Lilienthal has had an impressive rookie campaign, posting a 13-2 singles record and 16-3 mark in doubles play. He has helped form the No. 1 doubles team in the Northeast Region. Lilienthal has recorded four wins over nationally ranked players.
Danna Taylor (Carnegie Mellon University)
Danna Taylor has played at No. 1 singles and doubles in 2019, compiling a 28-8 singles record and 26-11 doubles mark while playing with several partners. Posting a top-five ITA regional ranking, Taylor won both the singles and doubles regional titles.
ITA Player to Watch
Jack Katzman (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges)
Sophomore Jack Katzman has posted a 26-2 overall singles recording including a 20-0 mark in dual matches. He is ranked No. 1 in singles and No. 5 in doubles play in the West region. As a freshman, Katzman reached the NCAA singles final, concluding the year with a 26-6 singles record and 25-7 mark in doubles. He ended the season ranked No. 2 in the west and No. 3 nationally.
Heather Boehm (Middlebury College)
Junior Heather Boehm has recorded a 15-1 record while playing at the No. 1 position. She has victories over No. 1 Emory and No. 2 Claremont while helping Middlebury College advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.
ITA Most Improved Senior
Patrick Whaling (Gustavus Adolphus College)
Patrick Whaling has improved from 12 singles victories at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions as a freshman to a 15-8 record at No. 1 singles as a senior. He has vaulted to a No. 5 regional ranking after beginning the fall ranked No. 23. His senior campaign was highlighted by a semi-finalist appearance at the ITA Fall Regional Championships. Whaling has also recorded a 28-4 doubles mark while competing at No. 1. He teamed with his partner to win the ITA Regional doubles title and placed third at the ITA Cup. He is part of his region’s No. 1 doubles team.
Leah Bush (Williams College)
Leah Bush has made significant contributions throughout her career since arriving at Williams College as a freshman walk-on. Bush earned All-American honors as a sophomore and is a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete. She is currently ranked No. 4 in her region while playing at No. 1 singles. Bush has a 9-6 singles record and reached the doubles semifinals of the Fall ITA Regional.
ITA Senior Player of the Year
Jonathan Jemison (Emory University)
A three-time All-American, Jonathan Jemison has capped an impressive career by winning ITA regional titles in singles and doubles play. He has compiled a singles record of 20-4, including a 13-3 mark in dual matches. He has also teamed with Adrien Bouchet to register a 25-5 doubles record, including a 17-4 mark in dual matches.
Victoria Yu (Wesleyan University)
Victoria Yu has a career singles record of 74-22 and is 101-19 in doubles play. She is a three-time national champion (2015 ITA, 2017 NCAA, 2017 ITA), six-time All-American (4 doubles, 2 singles) and five-time all-conference selection. Yu was named the 2016 ITA Northeast Rookie of the Year and has won four ITA New England doubles championships with two different partners. She is a two-time (2017 and 2018) NCAA singles finalist. In 2018-19, she has posted a 14-7 overall record while playing at No. 1 and 21-5 mark in doubles. His long list of successes includes 2015 ITA Small College Nationals Division III doubles champion, 2017 ITA Oracle Cup (formerly Small College Nationals), Division III doubles and Super Bowl Championship titles. Other accolades include Wesleyan’s Maynard Award, presented to top senior scholar-athlete; 2018 Academic All-American, 2017 Academic All-District; Dean’s List every semester; ITA Scholar Athlete and all-conference academic every year. Yu has a 98 GPA.
About the Intercollegiate Tennis Association
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is committed to serving college tennis and returning the leaders of tomorrow. As the governing body of college tennis, the ITA oversees men’s and women’s varsity tennis at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College divisions. The ITA administers a comprehensive awards and rankings program for men’s and women’s varsity players, coaches and teams in all divisions, providing recognition for their accomplishments on and off the court. For more information on the ITA, visit the ITA website at www.itatennis.com, like the ITA on Facebook or follow @ITA_Tennis on Twitter and Instagram.
