TEMPE, Ariz. (May 4) – The 2019 ITA National Junior College Coaches Athletic Association (NJCAA) women’s regional and national award winners were announced Saturday during a banquet prior to Sunday’s opening of the NJCAA National Championships in Tyler, Texas.
Tyler Junior College head coach Dash Connell was named the Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year after leading the Apaches to an 11-3 record and Region 14 championship. Chris Nyholm of Hillsborough Community College was tabbed ITA Assistant Coach of the Year.
Santa Barbara City College sophomore Maddie Mitchell was selected the winner of the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award.
Other national winners included:
ITA Rookie of the Year
Tatiana Simova (ASA College Miami)
ITA Player to Watch
Dyane Barcenea De Bosque (Broward College)
ITA Most Improved Sophomore
Heather Graff (Riverside City College)
ITA Sophomore of the Year
Maria Genovese (Tyler Junior College)
ITA Community Service Award
Iowa Central
ITA REGIONAL AWARD WINNERS
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year
Rafael Rivero; Solano College (Region I)
Dash Connell; Tyler Junior College (Region II) *
Lyle Stickney; Barton Community College (Region III)
Sarah Summerfield; Hillsborough Community College (Region IV)
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Ruthie Ignacio; Diablo Valley College (Region I)
Micah Avance; Tyler Junior College (Region II)
Chris Nyholm; Hillsborough Community College (Region IV) *
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Madeleine Mitchell; Santa Barbara City College (Region I) *
Nathalie Wetherington; North Central Texas College (Region II)
ITA Rookie of the Year
Yu Seung Suh; Fullerton College (Region I)
Summer Yardley; Tyler Junior College (Region II)
Sofia Belluco; Seward County Community College (Region III)
Tatiana Simova; ASA College Miami (Region IV) *
ITA Player to Watch
Tsukino Watanabe; Sierra College (Region I)
Lucie Devier; Tyler Junior College (Region II)
Paula Coronado; Copiah Lincoln Community College (Region III)
Dyane Barcena Del Bosque; Broward College (Region IV) *
ITA Most Improved Sophomore
Heather Graf; Riverside City College (Region I) *
Makeilah Turner; Collin College (Region II)
Alena Macharova; Seward County Community College (Region III)
Augustina Diaz; ABAC
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year
Miri Inoue; Orange Coast College (Region I)
Maria Genovese; Tyler Junior College (Region II) *
Margarita Loperava; Mississippi Gulf Coast College (Region III)
Hana Kvapilova; Hillsborough Community College (Region IV)
ITA Community Service Award
Shasta College (Region I)
Iowa Central (Region III) *
ABAC (Region IV)
* Indicates national winner
The NJCAA Championships are scheduled for May 5-10 at the Joann Medlock Murphy Tennis Center and the Louise Brookshire Community Tennis Center in Tyler, Texas. The tournament opens Sunday at 8:30 a.m. (ET) and results can be found on the official tournament page.
The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) held its state championship in Ojai and Orange Coast College posted a 5-1 victory over Foothill to capture the title on April 24. Complete results can be accessed on the CCCAA website.
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.
