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Vilhelm Fridell Earns A Pair Of ITA Regional Sportsmanship Awards
5/18/2020 11:21:00 AM | Men's Tennis
BUFFALO, NY – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced their 2020 regional award winners on Monday and University at Buffalo men's tennis senior Vilhelm Fridell took home a pair of sportsmanship awards. Fridell was named the Northeast Region recipient for both the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship award as well as the ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award.
On the court in a season cut short this year, Fridell tied for the team lead in singles wins, while adding nine doubles victories. He finishes his Buffalo career seventh all-time in singles wins and ninth in doubles victories. In addition to leading his team to a MAC title during his freshman season, Fridell also twice was named a first-team All-MAC Selection. Academically, he was most recently named to the MAC Honor Roll.
"A huge congratulations to Ville for winning both the Arthur Ashe and Osuna Sportsmanship Awards for the Northeast Region. Arthur Ashe was a champion who transcended our sport through his humanitarianism and acceptance of others," said head coach Lee Nickell. "Ville competes with every ounce of effort he can, all while upholding the most important values of UB and its athletic department, the acceptance of others, academic success, and sportsmanship. Ville has always supported his fellow student-athletes, and we are very proud to have had him as a Bull!"
The ITA Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding student-athletes in all five divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO) at the regional and national level. This prestigious award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to the men's and women's national student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
The ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award is the ITA's longest-running award and goes to a Division I men's player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics and has had outstanding tennis playing accomplishments. The award was established in 1969 in memory of Rafael Osuna, who was killed in a plane accident at the age of 30. Osuna is one of the all-time great collegiate tennis players, winning three NCAA doubles titles (1961-63) and the 1962 NCAA singles title as part of USC teams many consider to be the greatest of all-time.
On the court in a season cut short this year, Fridell tied for the team lead in singles wins, while adding nine doubles victories. He finishes his Buffalo career seventh all-time in singles wins and ninth in doubles victories. In addition to leading his team to a MAC title during his freshman season, Fridell also twice was named a first-team All-MAC Selection. Academically, he was most recently named to the MAC Honor Roll.
"A huge congratulations to Ville for winning both the Arthur Ashe and Osuna Sportsmanship Awards for the Northeast Region. Arthur Ashe was a champion who transcended our sport through his humanitarianism and acceptance of others," said head coach Lee Nickell. "Ville competes with every ounce of effort he can, all while upholding the most important values of UB and its athletic department, the acceptance of others, academic success, and sportsmanship. Ville has always supported his fellow student-athletes, and we are very proud to have had him as a Bull!"
The ITA Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding student-athletes in all five divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO) at the regional and national level. This prestigious award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to the men's and women's national student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
The ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award is the ITA's longest-running award and goes to a Division I men's player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics and has had outstanding tennis playing accomplishments. The award was established in 1969 in memory of Rafael Osuna, who was killed in a plane accident at the age of 30. Osuna is one of the all-time great collegiate tennis players, winning three NCAA doubles titles (1961-63) and the 1962 NCAA singles title as part of USC teams many consider to be the greatest of all-time.
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