BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh and Navy earned the 2022 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Major Awards as the All-Patriot League teams and major awards were announced on Thursday by the League office.
Navy senior Derrick Thompson was named this year’s Patriot League Men’s Tennis Player of the Year, while he and teammate Sasha Panyan earned doubles team of the year. Navy head coach Chris Garner received coach of the year.
Lehigh freshman Marc Blekhman rounded out the major awards as rookie of the year.
Six out of nine League teams are represented on the two All-League teams. Navy led the way with four student-athletes on the teams followed by Army West Point with three and Lehigh with two. Boston University, Bucknell and Colgate rounded out the all-League teams with one student-athlete apiece.
The Major Awards and All-League teams were voted on by the nine Patriot League head coaches who could not vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
Patriot League Men’s Tennis Player of the Year
Derrick Thompson, Navy, Sr., Towson, Md./Gilman School
* Thompson, the recently named men’s tennis Championship MVP, finished the season 21-10 at No. 1 singles and 15-5 in dual matches.
* He posted a 5-2 No. 1 singles record in conference play to lead the team to the No. 1 seed in the championship.
* The 2019 Patriot League rookie of the year is also a three-time first-team All-Patriot League member.
Patriot League Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Year
Marc Blekhman, Lehigh, Fr.,
Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South
* Blekhman recorded an 8-6 overall and 4-1 League-play record at No. 2 and No. 3 singles this season.
Patriot League Men’s Tennis Doubles Team of the Year
Derrick Thompson/Sasha Panyan, Navy
* Thompson and Panyan earned a 12-5 overall doubles record for the Midshipmen.
* The duo ended the season 3-1 in Patriot League play on court one.
Patriot League Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year
Chris Garner, Navy
* Garner guided the Midshipmen to a 32-11 overall record and an 8-0 mark in Patriot League action.
* He directed the team to their fourth-straight Patriot League title with a 4-1 win over No. 3 Army in the championship match.
* Garner has now won five overall Patriot League Coach of the Year honors, and this year being his second-straight annual award.
2022 Men’s Tennis All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Player of the Year – Derrick Thompson, Navy, Sr.
Doubles Team of the Year – Derrick Thompson/Sasha Panyan, Navy
Rookie of the Year – Marc Blekhman, Lehigh, Fr.
Coach of the Year – Chris Garner, Navy
First Team All-Patriot League
Diego Huttepain, Army West Point, Sr.
A.J. Woodman, Army West Point, Jr.
Harrison Gold, Bucknell, So.
Zack Elliott, Lehigh, Sr.
Derrick Thompson, Navy, Sr.
Gavin Segraves, Navy, Jr.
Second Team All-Patriot League
Sam Eden, Army West Point, Jr.
Jonah Dickson, Boston University, So.
Jack Selati, Colgate, Jr.
Marc Blekhman, Lehigh, Fr.
Finn Garner, Navy, Fr.
Sasha Panyan, Navy, So.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.