Toledo’s Pawit Sornlaksup earned yet another award to add to his list of achievements for the 2022-23 season by being named the recipient of the ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the Midwest Region. The league announced its 2023 Division I Men’s Regional Award winners on Tuesday.
“This is a huge honor for Pawit and very well deserved,” head coach Al Wermer said. “His sportsmanship is undeniable, and his leadership is unmistakable. His leadership style is to stay modest, stay focused, and definitely to ‘speak softly, but carry a big stick.’ Midwest and national eyes are finally aware that Pawit’s threat is real. Beyond all that, he continues to work hard on his game and improving upon his distinguished career.”
The ITA recognizes coaches and players for their performance on the court and involvement in the community throughout the season. The Division I Playing Awards include: Wilson ITA Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Senior, ITA Senior Player of the Year, ITA Community Service and ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award.
The Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award is presented to a student-athlete at the Division I, II and III and NAIA and JUCO levels who exhibit outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements in ways of tennis icon and humanitarian Arthur Ashe Jr.
Sornlaksup is the second Rocket on record to earn this honor, following Varsity T Hall of Famer Jared Miller who earned the award in 2009.
The two-time MAC Player of Year, Sornlaksup turned in one of the best performances in Toledo men’s tennis history. He also earned First-Team All-MAC honors and MAC All-Tournament Team for the second-straight season and was named the MAC tournament MVP. The Rayong, Thailand native has defended the No. 1 singles court for 43-straight dual matches since joining the Midnight Blue and Gold in the 2021-22 season, and went an undefeated 10-0 against MAC opponents for the second-straight season. Sornlaksup clinched match point vs. Western Michigan on April 23 to lead UT to its first MAC Championship title in 50 years. Sornlaksup and the Rockets then took the court for the first time as a team in the NCAA Tournament and fell in the first round to No. 7 Michigan, 4-0 on May 6.
Sornlaksup earned five MAC Singles Player of the Week honors and one Double Team of the Week nod for a combined total of 12 conference weekly honors so far in his career.
An information systems major, Sornlaksup also earned two MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week honors as well as a spot on the Academic All-MAC Team and CSC Academic All-District Team.
The national awards will be announced on Monday, June 12.
