Men's Tennis

MIAC announces 2024-25 Men’s Tennis awards

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2024-25 MIAC Men's Tennis Awards on Tuesday.

Bethel sophomore Carter Sheard was the recipient of the MIAC Men's Tennis Singles Player of the Year award, while the Gustavus junior duo of Gage Gohl and Tyler Haddorff received the conference's Doubles Team of the Year honor. St. Olaf first-year Madden Vanderwerf was named the Men's Tennis Rookie of the Year, and Concordia head coach David Youngs was named the Steve Wilkinson Head Coach of the Year for men's tennis.

Gustavus senior Marco Siviero was also selected as the 2024-25 MIAC Arthur Ashe Award winner. The award annually recognizes a senior men's tennis student-athlete who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship and exemplary athletic, academic, and humanitarian accomplishments.

| 2024-25 MIAC Men's Tennis Awards |

Sheard (Maple Grove, Minn.) was named the MIAC Singles Player of the Year after going 8- 1 against conference opponents at No. 1 singles in 2024-25. Sheard posted a 17-3 record overall, playing every match at the top of the Royals' lineup.

Gohl (Sioux Falls, S.D. | Lincoln) and Haddorff (Burnsville, Minn.) received Doubles Team of the Year honors after posting an 11-4 record in overall dual matches and an undefeated mark in conference action. This is the second consecutive MIAC Doubles Team of the Year honor for the defending NCAA Division III Doubles champions.

Vanderwerf (Mankato, Minn. | East) was selected as the MIAC Rookie of the Year for men's tennis after going 7-2 in singles action against conference opponents in his debut season. Vanderwerf played the bulk of his singles matches at the No. 4 spot and added a trio of victories in doubles action throughout the conference season.

Youngs (1st season) was celebrated by his peers as the Steve Wilkinson Coach of the Year for men's tennis after guiding the Cobbers to their first playoff berth since 2018. The award is named in honor of Steve Wilkinson, who spent 39 years (1971-2009) at the helm of the Gustavus men's tennis program, retiring with the most overall victories (929) in the history of collegiate men's tennis.

Siviero (Sao Miguel de Oeste, Brazil | Goliath Academy) was the recipient of the prestigious MIAC Arthur Ashe Award. The 2023-24 MIAC Singles Player of the Year, Siviero was undefeated in conference play as a senior in 2024-25, going 4-0 in singles action and 5-0 in doubles play.

"Marco contributes a beautiful blend of maturity, perspective, and intensity to bring out the best in himself and his entire team during competition," Gustavus coach Tommy Valentini said. "He is a passionate young man who beautifully combines intensity with respect for the opponent and the game."

A business management and communication studies double major with a 3.87 GPA at Gustavus, Siviero has been honored as a Singles All-American, Doubles All-American, and Academic All-American during his time as a Gustie.

"Coming from Brazil to a new culture and competitive atmosphere challenged me to adapt and to grow as an athlete, teammate, and individual," Siviero said. "Tennis allowed me to contribute to a cause bigger than my own goals. I learned what it means to compete for something greater than myself."

The 2024-25 MIAC Men's Tennis All-Conference Singles and Doubles teams were also recognized. The All-Conference team is selected based on performance during conference dual matches, with the top 18 players (including ties) recognized for both singles and doubles. Coaches also voted on honorable mention selections. 

Awards are nominated by and voted on by the MIAC head men's tennis coaches, and statistics from MIAC matches are considered for conference honors; any nominated player not selected as All-Conference but still receiving votes from at least three coaches was named honorable mention.

The MIAC also announced the All-Playoff Team for men's tennis, which recognized the top eight performers from the conference tournament, as selected by playoff-participant head coaches.

| 2024-25 MIAC Men's Tennis Awards |