Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is pleased to announce the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s National Award recipients. Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in their communities throughout the season.
The Division II national awards include: ITA Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Player, ITA Senior Player of the Year, and the ITA Player to Watch.
Continue reading below to find out more about each of the 2025 ITA National Award winners:
ITA Coach of the Year
Sam Barr | Grand Valley State University
Sam Barr from Grand Valley State University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s Coach of the Year. Leading the Lakers to one of their best seasons in program history, Barr has helped lead Grand Valley State to an impressive 18-2 record heading into NCAA Championship play. After leading the team to an unbeaten conference record, Barr coached the Lakers to their first-ever GLIAC Tournament Championship in program history. With all of this success, Grand Valley State earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional and defeated Tiffin and Rockhurst to earn their spot into round of sixteen. Barr was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year and will now turn her sights to the remaining NCAA Championship where Grand Valley State is the No. 5 seed in the tournament.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Martin Matov | Grand Valley State University
Martin Matov from Grand Valley State University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year. As a former player and now assistant coach, Matov has been one of the most impactful individuals in the history of the Grand Valley State tennis program. In the fall, Matov stepped up to serve as the acting head coach when the head coach Sam Barr went on maternity leave. During this time, Matov helped host the ITA Regional Championship at Grand Valley State and prepared the team for the upcoming spring. This Spring the Lakers have impressed on many front going 18-2 to this point in the year and winning the GLIAC Tournament Championship for the first time in program history. Matov and the GVSU team will now head to Orlando to take part in the NCAA Division II Championships where they enter as the No. 5 seeded team.
ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Takeshi Taco | Valdosta State University
Takeshi Taco from Valdosta State University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. As one of the top players nationally during his time with the Blazers, Taco has been a leader both on and off the court for the Valdosta State tennis program. Coming in from the junior college ranks, Taco helped the Blazers to being crowned National Champions in 2024 and has led them to an unbeaten season to this point in 2025 where they enter the round of sixteen as the No. 1 seed in the nation. Throughout his Valdosta State career, Taco has gone 52-6 in singles and has ranked within the top five nationally in both singles and doubles. Taco was named the Valdosta State Male Athlete of the Year and was a recipient of the 2024-25 GSC Top Ten Award which honors student-athletes for their athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements.
ITA Rookie of the Year
Artiom Dorofeev | University of Texas at Tyler
Artiom Dorofeev from the University of Texas at Tyler has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s Rookie of the Year. As the highest ranked freshman in the nation, Dorofeev has been an integral part of the UT Tyler team this season and has helped the Patriots to a 22-2 record and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Championships. Going 19-1 primarily from the No. 2 singles position, Dorofeev has quickly cemented himself as one of the most dominate players in the South Central Region. Starting his career on a 18 match singles winning streak, Dorofeev quickly rose up the Division II Singles Rankings and currently ranks No. 17 in the country. With his team now in the round of sixteen, Dorofeev and the Patriots will now look to cap off their impressive season with even more hardware in Orlando.
ITA Most Improved Player
Henry Dornbush | Augustana University
Henry Dornbush from Augustana University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s Most Improved Player. Now in his senior year, Dornbush has been a shining example of the developmental opportunities that are available to players at the collegiate level. Currently ranked No. 15 in the nation in singles, Dornbush earned First Team All-Conference honors this season after going 18-2 from the No. 1 singles position for Augustana. Dornbush has six ranked singles wins on the season, including three wins over Top 25 opponents. Just as strong in doubles, Dornbush and his partner are currently ranked No. 28 in the nation in doubles, including a win over the No. 1 ranked team in the nation at that time.
ITA Senior Player of the Year
Edgar Destouet | Valdosta State University
Edgar Destouet from Valdosta State University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s Senior Player of the Year. Joining the Valdosta State team last fall, Destouet has immediately stepped into the Blazers lineup and has made an impact. Currently ranked No. 20 in singles for the unbeaten Valdosta State squad, Destouet has a 25-1 record in singles play for the Blazers this season and is a perfect 19-0 this spring. Just as important in doubles, him and partner Arthur Bord have gone 19-4 in doubles with a 14-3 record this spring. Behind Destouet’s help, Valdosta State have currently won 36-straight matches and will enter the NCAA Championship round of sixteen as the nation’s top seeded team.
ITA Player to Watch
Boruch Skierkier | Valdosta State University
Boruch Skierkier from Valdosta State University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Men’s Player to Watch. As the nations No. 3 ranked singles player nationally, Skierkier has been a part of the Valdosta State Blazers team that has achieved a perfect 22-0 record to this part of the season. On the year, Skierkier has gone 28-3 in singles play and is 17-1 in matches this spring. Skierkier earned GSC Player of the Week hours twice this season and was named First Team All-GSC for his efforts this season. After winning a national title last season with Valdosta State, Skierkier hopes to be at the top again this season when him and his teammates enter the round of sixteen as the nation’s top seeded team. Upon completion of the season, Skierkier will take his talents to Tennessee where he will use his last year of eligibility in 2025-26.
