Liberty League announces 2017-18 Men's Tennis award recipients
2017-18 Liberty League Men’s Tennis Awards
Player of the Year: Steven Koulouris, Sr., Skidmore College
Skidmore College senior Steven Koulouris was selected as the Liberty League Player of the Year. As of April 26, Koulouris was ranked 13th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Region rankings in singles – the highest ranking of any Liberty League player. He and sophomore teammate J.T. Wynne were ranked fifth in the region in doubles. Koulouris and Wynne earned All-America honors after winning the ITA Northeast doubles championship in the fall. Between singles and doubles play, Koulouris lost just one Liberty League regular-season match as he went 3-1 in singles and 5-0 in doubles.
Rookie of the Year: Brian Niguidula, Fr., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute first-year student Brian Niguidula was selected as Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Niguidula, part of a strong freshman class for the Engineers, compiled a 22-5 overall record in singles play, including 15-3 in dual matches. Playing primarily at fourth singles, he went 6-1 in Liberty League regular-season play. Niguidula went 18-7 in doubles play, including 17-3 in dual matches. He played primarily with fellow first-year player Clay Thompson. Together the duo went 7-3 in dual matches with a 5-0 mark against Liberty League opponents.
Coaching Staff of the Year: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Jon Satkowski, Head Coach
After leading Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to its first Liberty League title and NCAA bid in men’s tennis, head coach Jon Satkowski received the league’s top coaching honor. With a lineup consisting of one senior, two sophomores and three freshmen, Satkowski led the Engineers to a 16-4 overall record, a No. 27 national ranking and a No. 10 ranking in the ITA Northeast Region. The Engineers earned a first-round bye in the NCAA tournament before knocking off No. 37 Stevens, 5-0, in the second round. RPI fell to third-ranked Bowdoin in the regional final. Satkowski is assisted by Stephen Baxter and Sai Nakireddi.
First Team All-Liberty League (Singles)
Sebastian Castillo-Sanchez, So., RPI
Alan Dubrovsky, So., Hobart
Steven Koulouris, Sr., Skidmore
Jonah Salita, Jr., Hobart
Minos Stavrakas, So., Ithaca
J.T. Wynne, So., Skidmore
Second Team All-Liberty League (Singles)
Jonathan Atwater, Jr., Hobart
David Gandham, Fr., Vassar
Travis Leaf, Jr., Skidmore
Sam McGrath, Jr., Ithaca
Brian Niguidula, Fr., RPI
Clay Thompson, Fr., RPI
Honorable Mention (Singles)
Jamie Anderson, Jr., Vassar
Walker Anderson, Fr., Hobart
Jeremy Auh, So., Vassar
McKinley Grimes, Sr., RPI
Ben Lynaugh, Sr., RIT
Jack McClaren, So., Skidmore
Eric Tecce, So., St. Lawrence
First Team All-Liberty League (Doubles)
Steven Koulouris, Sr./J.T. Wynne, So., Skidmore
Sebastian Castillo-Sanchez, So./Andrew Imrie, Fr., RPI
Alan Dubrovsky, So./Jonah Salita, Jr., Hobart
Second Team All-Liberty League (Doubles)
Adam Krueger, Fr./Jeremy Auh, So., Vassar
Zack Ebenfeld, So./McKinley Grimes, Sr., RPI
Minost Stavrakas, So./Colten Lavery, So., Ithaca
Honorable Mention (Doubles)
Eric Tecce, So./Leo Romanetz, Fr., St. Lawrence
Walker Anderson, Fr./Harry Nichols, Sr., Hobart
Ben Lynaugh, Sr./Nick Lim, Fr., RIT