Photo by: Olivia Hokanson
Craig Headlines Patriot League Awards Haul with Rookie of the Year Honor
May 2, 2023 | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After leading the 2023 Patriot League runner-up Boston University men's tennis team in singles victories, freshman Corey Craig has been named Rookie of the Year, the conference office announced Tuesday morning.
Craig garnered BU's first-ever major PL award and also added All-Conference First Team accolades. In total, BU had three Terriers recognized for the first time since 2019 with freshman Alejandro Licea and sophomore Dion Loutas both being placed on the second team.
Led by head coach Dejan Stankovic, the Terriers went 14-12 this past season after tabulating a combined 18 wins over the previous four years and reached their first conference tournament final since 1999. Highlights of the year included BU defeating Army West Point for the first time since 2011 in the PL semifinals and collecting notable non-conference wins over Marist and Bryant.
A native of Coconut Creek, Florida, Craig earned a 19-7 overall singles record with a 13-5 mark at line 2 in dual action. He finished on a six-match unbeaten streak and won nine of his last 10 contests, including straight-set victories over Dartmouth, Navy, Marist and Army (2x). He also dropped just two games in a dominating performance in the top slot against Bentley and teamed with junior Ben Letzer for a pair of doubles wins at line 3.
Licea collected the second most wins for the Terriers with an 18-11 singles mark, highlighted by a season-ending seven-match win streak at line 3. The San Salvador, El Salvador, native posted two wins against Army and also added victories over Lehigh, Bryant and Bucknell. Both he and Loutas teamed together in the top doubles slot and finished with 10 victories, including wins over Harvard, Dartmouth and Colgate.
Loutas played all spring at line 1 and finished with seven wins after going 0-9 a year prior to earn his first All-PL honor. The Adelaide, Australia, native posted straight-set singles wins over Brown, Marist, Colgate and Bucknell.
2023 Men's Tennis All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Player of the Year – Sasha Panyan, Navy, Jr.
Doubles Team of the Year – Sasha Panyan/Luke Garner, Navy
Rookie of the Year – Corey Craig, Boston University, Fr.
Coach of the Year – Chris Garner, Navy
First Team All-Patriot League
A.J. Woodman, Army West Point, Sr.
Thomas Lake, Army West Point, Sr.
Corey Craig, Boston University, Fr.
Amar Tahirovic, Bucknell, Fr.
Matt Kleiman, Lehigh, Sr.
Sasha Panyan, Navy, Jr.
Second Team All-Patriot League
Alejandro Licea, Boston University, Fr.
Dion Loutas, Boston University, So.
Jack Selati, Colgate, Sr.
Marc Blekhman, Lehigh, So.
Gavin Segraves, Navy, Sr.
Luke Garner, Navy, So.
Craig garnered BU's first-ever major PL award and also added All-Conference First Team accolades. In total, BU had three Terriers recognized for the first time since 2019 with freshman Alejandro Licea and sophomore Dion Loutas both being placed on the second team.
Led by head coach Dejan Stankovic, the Terriers went 14-12 this past season after tabulating a combined 18 wins over the previous four years and reached their first conference tournament final since 1999. Highlights of the year included BU defeating Army West Point for the first time since 2011 in the PL semifinals and collecting notable non-conference wins over Marist and Bryant.
A native of Coconut Creek, Florida, Craig earned a 19-7 overall singles record with a 13-5 mark at line 2 in dual action. He finished on a six-match unbeaten streak and won nine of his last 10 contests, including straight-set victories over Dartmouth, Navy, Marist and Army (2x). He also dropped just two games in a dominating performance in the top slot against Bentley and teamed with junior Ben Letzer for a pair of doubles wins at line 3.
Licea collected the second most wins for the Terriers with an 18-11 singles mark, highlighted by a season-ending seven-match win streak at line 3. The San Salvador, El Salvador, native posted two wins against Army and also added victories over Lehigh, Bryant and Bucknell. Both he and Loutas teamed together in the top doubles slot and finished with 10 victories, including wins over Harvard, Dartmouth and Colgate.
Loutas played all spring at line 1 and finished with seven wins after going 0-9 a year prior to earn his first All-PL honor. The Adelaide, Australia, native posted straight-set singles wins over Brown, Marist, Colgate and Bucknell.
2023 Men's Tennis All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Player of the Year – Sasha Panyan, Navy, Jr.
Doubles Team of the Year – Sasha Panyan/Luke Garner, Navy
Rookie of the Year – Corey Craig, Boston University, Fr.
Coach of the Year – Chris Garner, Navy
First Team All-Patriot League
A.J. Woodman, Army West Point, Sr.
Thomas Lake, Army West Point, Sr.
Corey Craig, Boston University, Fr.
Amar Tahirovic, Bucknell, Fr.
Matt Kleiman, Lehigh, Sr.
Sasha Panyan, Navy, Jr.
Second Team All-Patriot League
Alejandro Licea, Boston University, Fr.
Dion Loutas, Boston University, So.
Jack Selati, Colgate, Sr.
Marc Blekhman, Lehigh, So.
Gavin Segraves, Navy, Sr.
Luke Garner, Navy, So.
Players Mentioned
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