Virginia Sweeps VaSID Awards

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June 29, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After winning its third-straight national championship, the University of Virginia highlighted the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division Men’s Tennis All-State team released on Thursday (June 28). NCAA Singles Champion Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Charlotte, N.C.) was named the VaSID State Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, with UVA’s entire singles line-up garnering All-State honors. UVA head coach Brian Boland was once again selected as the State Coach of the Year, while Cavalier Carl Soderlund (Stockholm, Sweden) was honored as the State Rookie of the Year.

Kwiatkowski closed out his collegiate career by winning the NCAA Singles Championship in May. A three-time All-American in singles, he was named the ITA Atlantic Region Senior Player of the Year and ACC Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2017. Kwiatkowski garnered All-ACC First Team honors, won the American Collegiate Invitational and was named to both the ITA National Indoor and NCAA All-Tournament Teams.

Boland, who led UVA to its fourth NCAA crown in the last five seasons, was named the State Coach of the Year for the eighth time. The Cavaliers finished 2017 at 34-1 and won its 12th ACC Championship. Virginia also claimed the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. Boland was honored as the ITA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year as well.

Söderlund, who was an All-State Second Team pick in singles, garnered the state’s top rookie honor after collecting ITA Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year and All-ACC Second Team accolades. He finished the season ranked No. 92 nationally in singles and opened his collegiate career with 13-straight singles victories.

Kwiatkowski was joined on the All-State First Team in singles by fellow Cavaliers Colin Altamirano (Sacramento, Calif.), Alexander Ritschard (Zurich, Switzerland) and J.C. Aragone (Yorba Linda, Calif.). Altamirano, who finished the year ranked No. 55 nationally, and Ritschard, who was No. 64, both received All-ACC Second Team picks. Ritschard added the ITA Atlantic Region Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award and ITA Atlantic Region Most Improved Senior Award to his resume. Aragone was named the MVP of the ACC Championship and clinched UVA’s wins in the NCAA, ACC and ITA National Team Indoor championships.

The trio of Richmond’s Jacob Dunbar, Adam Moundir of Old Dominion and William & Mary’s Aidan Talcott rounded out the All-State First Team in singles after earning their conferences’ player of the year awards. Dunbar, who set the Richmond record for career wins with 105, was the Atlantic 10 Player of the year, while Moundir earned his second-straight first team honor after repeating as the Conference USA Player of the Year. Talcott was the Tribe’s first CAA Player of the Year since 1999 and was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the CAA Championship.

The same four UVA athletes on the singles first team combined to form two of the first team doubles selections. Kwiatkowski and Ritschard finished the year ranked No. 52 nationally, garnered spots on both the NCAA and ITA National Team Indoor All-Tournament teams, and set a program record for best winning percentage by a doubles team (.961). Aragone and Altamirano were named to the both the NCAA and ITA National Team Indoors All-Tournament Teams as well. The Richmond duo of Dunbar and Alex Felisa rounded out the first team after posting a 25-3 record, including winning the ITA Atlantic Region Doubles Championship.

Six different programs comprised the All-State Second Team in singles. Söderlund and Cavalier teammate Henrik Wiersholm (Kirkland, Wash.), who earned the honor for the second-straight year, joined Javier Jover Maestre of Old Dominion, Longwood’s Amadeo Blasco Hervas, Chase Burton of Liberty, James Madison’s Damon Robert, And MEAC Player of the Year Juan Araoz of Hampton on the second team.

After both earning singles All-State honors, ODU’s Moudir and Maestre formed one of the three All-State Doubles Second Team honorees. VCU’s Daryl Monfils and Marten Jonsson as well as the William & Mary pair of Christian Cargill/Ryan Newman rounded out the second team.

2017 VaSID All-State Men’s Tennis, University Division
Player of the Year ââ’¬” Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, Virginia
Coach of the Year ââ’¬” Brian Boland, Virginia
Rookie of the Year ââ’¬” Carl Soderlund, Virginia

All-State First Team
Doubles
Thai-Son Kwiatkowski/Alexander Ritschard (Virginia)
Alex Felisa/Jacob Dunbar (Richmond)
J.C. Aragone/Collin Altamirano (Virginia)

Singles
Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Virginia)#
Jacob Dunbar (Richmond)
J.C. Aragone (Virginia) %
Adam Moundir (Old Dominion) *
Collin Altamirano (Virginia) #
Aidan Talcott (William & Mary)
Alexander Ritschard (Virginia)

All-State Second Team
Doubles
Daryl Monfils/Marten Jonsson (VCU)
Adam Moudir/Javier Jover Maestre (Old Dominion)
Christian Cargill/Ryan Newman (William & Mary)

Singles
Javier Jover Maestre (Old Dominion)
Carl Soderlund (Virginia)
Amadeo Blasco Hervas (Longwood)
Chase Burton (Liberty)
Damon Robert (James Madison)
Henrik Wiersholm (Virginia) $
Juan Araoz (Hampton)
#First Team in 2015 and 2016
$ Second Team in 2016
% First Team in 2015 and Second Team in 2016
* First Team in 2016