#SWACMTEN All Conference Awards Announced
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference revealed its 2018-19 All-Conference Men’s Tennis team and awards on the eve of the 2019 SWAC Men’s Tennis Tournament, with Alabama State’s Ion Efrim and Prairie View A&M’s Jorge Juarez Caballero earning individual honors.
The All-SWAC team was determined based on overall singles and doubles records in league play. In the event of similar records, preference was given to the higher positioned player within his respective team’s lineup.
This year’s all-conference team members compiled an overall record of 45-7 in conference singles play. Six of the selections went undefeated in singles competition during league play, including Efrim (4-0), Chris Andre (3-0) and Alexis Collard (2-0), Prairie View A&M’s Xavier Lawrence (4-0), Jackson State’s Lebelo Mosehle (5-0) and Alabama A&M’s Fermin Ruiz (5-0).
Also earning all-conference honors were Caballero, Jackson State’s Juan Soria, Alabama State’s Alejo Calvis, Alabama A&M’s Rodrigo Rios, Alcorn State’s Stojan Stojanovski and Jackson State’s Richy Gamo.
Efrim was named Player of the Year after amassing a combined 5-0 record in SWAC play. Overall, the senior went 11-2 as the No. 1 player for the top-seeded Hornets.
Caballero garnered Freshman of the Year honors after posting a 4-1 record in league play while alternating predominantly as the Panthers’ No. 2 and No. 3 player. Alongside fellow All-SWAC honoree Lawrence, the duo formed one of the top doubles tandems in league play.
The Coach of the Year award will be presented to the championship team’s head coach at the conclusion of the 2019 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis tournament.
2018-19 All-SWAC Men’s Tennis Team
Ion Efrim, Alabama State
Chris Andre, Alabama State
Fermin Ruiz, Alabama A&M
Lebelo Mosehle, Jackson State
Xavier Lawrence, PVAMU
Alexis Collard, Alabama State
Jorge Juarez Caballero, PVAMU
Juan Soria, Jackson State
Alejo Calvis, Alabama State
Rodrigo Rios, Alabama A&M
Stojan Stojanovski, Alcorn State
Richy Gamo, Jackson State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ion Efrim, Alabama State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jorge Juarez Caballero, PVAMU