W&M's Talcott Leads All-CAA Men's Tennis Team
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (May 2, 2017) – William & Mary senior
Aidan Talcott was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association men’s tennis Player of the Year in a vote by the league’s head coaches.
Also earning top honors from the conference were UNCW freshman
Ignasi de Rueda and James Madison freshman
Damon Roberts who was honored as CAA Co-Rookies of the Year, and UNCW’s
Mait DuBois, who was chosen as the CAA Coach of the Year.
Talcott finished the season with a 17-10 singles record, including a 13-7 mark at the No. 1 position. He won seven of his final eight matches, including three straight-set victories at the CAA Men’s Tennis Championship that led to him being recognized as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer. The senior ranks ninth in school history in career winning percentage (64.3%). Talcott is the sixth William & Mary standout to receive CAA Player of the Year honors, but the first since Trevor Spracklin in 1999.
de Rueda put together a 14-4 dual match record for the Seahawks, including a perfect 5-0 mark at No. 3 singles. The freshman captured seven of his final eight matches. He also added eight victories in doubles with several different partners. De Rueda is the first UNCW player to be recognized as CAA men’s tennis Rookie of the Year.
Roberts compiled a 19-11 record this season, including a 14-8 tally in dual matches. He was a combined 10-2 at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions and won seven of his final nine contests. The freshman also contributed in doubles, posting an 8-2 record at the No. 2 slot with partner Sebastian Salinas. Roberts is the fourth JMU player to be selected as the CAA men’s tennis Rookie of the Year.
DuBois guided a young UNCW squad to a 14-8 overall record this season. The Seahawks captured their fifth CAA men’s tennis title in the past nine years with a 4-2 triumph over William & Mary and will represent the conference in the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship. The CAA Coach of the Year honor is the fifth in DuBois’ career with the Seahawks.
Talcott was joined on the All-CAA singles first team by junior
Juan Estevarena and sophomore
Benedikt Henning from the College of Charleston, sophomore
Agustin Savarino and junior
Andres Torres of UNCW, and Elon sophomore
Felipe Sarrasague.
Three doubles teams received All-CAA first team honors as well. Making the squad were CofC’s Estevarena and senior
Rodrigo Encinas, Elon seniors
Chris Humphreys and
Petar Tomic, and W&M juniors
Christian Cargill and
Ryan Newman.
2017 ALL-CAA MEN’S TENNIS TEAMS
First Team
Singles
Juan Estevarena, Col. of Charleston Jr. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Benedikt Henning, Col. of Charleston So. Bad Hersfeld, Germany
Felipe Sarrasague, Elon So. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Agustin Savarino, UNCW So. Mar Del Plata, Argentina
Aidan Talcott, William & Mary Sr. Sea Cliff, N.Y.
Andres Torres, UNCW Jr. Armenia, Colombia
Doubles
Rodrigo Encinas, Col. of Charleston Sr. Santiago, Chile
Juan Estevarena, Col. of Charleston Jr. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Chris Humphreys, Elon Sr. Albuquerque, N.M.
Petar Tomic, Elon Sr. Belgrade, Serbia
Christian Cargill, William & Mary Jr. Cleveland, Ohio
Ryan Newman, William & Mary Jr. Wilmington, N.C.
Second Team
Singles
Christian Cargill, William & Mary Jr. Cleveland, Ohio
Ignasi de Rueda, UNCW Fr. Barcelona, Spain
Hamza Laalej, Drexel Jr. Meknes, Morocco
Salvador Mijares, Elon So. Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Mario Paccini, Elon So. Madrid, Spain
Damon Roberts, James Madison Fr. Grasse, France
Doubles
Ignasi de Rueda, UNCW Fr. Barcelona, Spain
Agustin Savarino, UNCW So. Mar Del Plata, Argentina
Salvador Mijares, Elon So. Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Neal Port, Elon Jr. Mount Kisco, N.Y.
Andres Torres, UNCW Jr. Armenia, Colombia
Michael Morphy, UNCW Fr. London England
Theophile Lanthiez, James Madison Jr. Villepreux, France
Paul Mendoza, James Madison Fr. Midlothian, Va.
2017 CAA MEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Aidan Talcott, William & Mary
2017 CAA MEN’S TENNIS Co-ROOKIES OF THE YEAR: Ignasi de Rueda, UNCW and Damon Roberts, James Madison
2017 CAA MEN’S TENNIS COACH OF THE YEAR: Mait DuBois, UNCW
All-Academic Team
Blaise Casselbury, Delaware So. Lititz, Pa.
Lars de Boer, William & Mary Jr. Roosendaal, Netherlands
Rodrigo Encinas, Col. of Charleston Sr. Santiago, Chile
Josh Hublitz, UNCW Jr. Vienna, Va.
Balaji Lakshmanan, Drexel Jr. Chennai, India
Sebastian Salinas, James Madison Sr. Merida, Mexico
Petar Tomic, Elon Sr. Belgrade, Serbia
Niko Vulinovich, Hofstra Jr. Auckland, New Zealand