Sunshine State Conference

Twenty Men’s Tennis Student-Athletes Named All-SSC in 2024

05.02.24

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Twenty student-athletes have been named to the 2024 All-Sunshine State Conference men's tennis teams. Saint Leo, SSC regular-season champion, claims five awards, including Athlete of the Year. Voting for the All-SSC teams was conducted among the league's men's tennis coaches.

Men's Tennis All-SSC History: All-SSC Teams | Athletes & Coaches of the Year

Coaches select Martin Soukal from Saint Leo as the Athlete of the Year. The senior from Brno, Czech Republic, tallied a 15-3 overall record in the spring regular season, all at #1 singles. His record included a 6-1 performance in conference matches matches. In doubles play, Soukal went 10-5 in the #1 spot with partner Luis Iriarte. He is the fourth Lion, second consecutive, to be named Athlete of the Year in men's tennis^A. The Sunshine State Conference Athlete of the Year award is presented by College Ave Student Loans.

Joshua Nuyts from Embry-Riddle collects Freshman of the Year accolades. The Waterloo, Belgium native posted an 11-6 record for the Eagles at #2 singles and was 4-3 in league play during the spring regular season. Additionally, Nuyts sported a 9-9 record in the #1 doubles spot. He is the first Embry-Riddle men's tennis athlete named SSC Freshman of the Year.

League coaches pick Jay Friedman from Rollins as the SSC Coach of the Year. Friedman collects the award by leading the Tars to a 19-2 overall record and a 6-1 record in SSC play during the regular season. Under his instruction, Rollins finished second in the SSC regular season standings, earned a first-round bye in the conference postseason tournament, and is currently No. 5 ITA ranking. The Tars have amassed six straight Top-10 ITA rankings heading into the NCAA postseason, including four weeks at No. 4. Friedman is the fourth Rollins skipper to be named conference Coach of the Year in men's tennis, the first since 2004^B.

Soukal, Chris Fok Kow of Florida Southern, and Luke Quaynor of Rollins highlight the list of repeat All-SSC winners. All three athletes earn a second straight First Team accolade in 2024. Ten award winners this year repeat as All-SSC during their career, including two former Freshman of the Year in Rollins' Charlie Putrino (2021) and Florida Southern's Mario Garoz (2022).

Athlete of the Year: Martin Soukal, Saint Leo
Freshman of the Year: Josh Nuyts, Embry-Riddle
Coach of the Year: Jay Friedman, Rollins

2024 All-SSC Men's Tennis Awards
¹ Soukal (SL) - 2023 First Team Singles
² Fok Kow (FS) - 2023 First Team Doubles
³ Ferreria (BU) - 2021 First Team Singles
⁴ Diaz Rodrigo (ER) - 2021 Second Team Doubles
⁵ Garoz (FS) -2023 Freshman of the Year, 2023 Second Team Doubles
⁶ Quaynor (RC) - 2023 First Team Singles, 2023 First Team Doubles
⁷ Iriarte (SL) - 2023 Honorable Mention Singles, 2023 Honorable Mention Doubles
⁸ Guberman (LU) - 2023 Honorable Mention Singles
⁹ Putrino (RC) - 2021 Freshman of the Year
¹⁰ Alonso (ER) - 2021 Honorable Mentin Doubles

^A Saint Leo Athletes of the Year: Alberto Barroso-Campos (2016), Thomas Grinberg (2018), Ivan Marrero (2023)
^B Rollins Coaches of the Year: Norm Copeland (1989), Jim Poling (2001-02), Ron Bohrnstedt (2004)
 
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