May 19, 2017 Article from GOBLUERAIDERS.COM
MEN’S TENNIS CLAIMS ITA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
BLUE RAIDERS REWARDED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EFFORTS
@MTAthletics
MURFREESBORO, Tenn - For the first time in program history, Middle Tennessee men's tennis was honored with
the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Community Service Award for the Ohio
Valley Region.
Head coach Jimmy Borendame's squad participated in a wide variety of activities in the community this season,
from reading in local elementary schools, hosting free tennis clinics for the Murfreesboro
City Schools, volunteering with "Buddy Up," a tennis clinic for children with Down
syndrome, and cleaning up areas of Murfreesboro.
"I'm very proud of our team for earning this award. We make this a priority in our
program, and it's great to be recognized amongst all the strong programs in the Ohio
Valley," Borendame said. "I stress doing a great job in the community with our players
as it results in fan support at matches, fundraising, and just spreading the love
of the game to Murfreesboro."
The Blue Raiders shared this year's award with Louisville. Sean Donohue of the Cardinals
took home the ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.
MT returns all eight players from the 2017 team that saw its season end in the semifinals
of the Conference USA Championship and will add two high-talent newcomers, and Borendame
knows how important that community service is for the student-athletes.
"I believe that this community involvement teaches our players to give back and that
each of us needs to share our gifts with others and serve others," he said. "I hope
they learn that each of them are role models in the community and that we need to
accept that role and be thankful for what we have. I believe it all comes full circle
in my belief in having a program that has a 'privileged mentality.'"
Ohio Valley Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Pawel Gajdzik - Purdue
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Francisco Stuardo Vargas - Purdue
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Nils Ellefsen - Kentucky
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Ricky Medinilla - Purdue
ITA Rookie of the Year: Stephan Koenigsfest - Purdue
ITA Player to Watch: Will Bushamuka - Kentucky
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Sean Donohue - Louisville
ITA Community Service Award: Middle Tennessee & Louisville