The Flagler College men’s tennis team has been recognized with several prestigious awards from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), officials announced Monday. The honors include Assistant Coach of the Year, Senior Player of the Year, and Player to Watch for the Southeast Region.
Assistant Coach Brian Washburn was named Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Working alongside Head Coach Jonas Piibor, Washburn helped lead the Saints to another standout season. The team won both the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) regular season and tournament championships for the second year in a row.
At their peak, the Saints were ranked No. 2 in the nation for three straight weeks and four weeks total. They currently hold the No. 4 national ranking.
Senior Baptiste Mercier earned the title of ITA Southeast Region Senior Player of the Year. Ranked No. 37 in singles at the time of the announcement, Mercier reached as high as No. 30 this spring. He entered the season ranked No. 20 after strong performances in the ITA Southeast Regional. A First Team All-PBC selection, Mercier ended the season with a 14-5 singles record and a 17-5 record in doubles. He teamed up with Ilian Borlee to go 5-1 and with Aly El Rafie to post a 12-4 record.
Sophomore Simon Malis was named the ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch—his first time receiving the honor. Earlier in the season, he was also selected as the PBC Player of the Year. Ranked No. 31 in singles, Malis reached a high of No. 27 for two straight weeks. He posted a 24-4 overall record and was 18-2 in dual matches, including four wins over nationally ranked players. In doubles play, Malis was 26-6—going 5-1 with Aniss Rafiq and 21-5 with Borlee.
These recognitions cap a stellar season for Flagler College’s men’s tennis program, underscoring both player talent and coaching excellence.
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