BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Boston University received three of the 2024 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Major Awards when the All-Patriot League Teams and major awards were announced on Monday by the League office. Navy earned one major award.
BU sophomore Corey Craig was named this year’s Patriot League Men’s Tennis Player of the Year, while Rookie of the Year went to teammate freshman Gustavs Dambins. Craig earned rookie of the year following the 2023 season. Terriers head coach Dejan Stankovic received coach of the year after leading the team to their first Patriot League championship title in program history.
Navy’s duo of Sasha Panyan and Luke Garner rounded out the major awards as the Patriot League Doubles Team of the Year.
Six out of nine League teams are represented on the two All-League teams. BU placed a League-leading four student-athletes on the teams, followed by Bucknell, Lehigh and Navy with two apiece. Army West Point and Loyola Maryland both recorded one honoree.
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.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Player of the Year
Corey Craig, Boston University, So.
* Craig finished the season with a perfect 9-0 Patriot League record in No. 1 singles, with wins over Navy’s Sasha Panyan and Bucknell’s Amar Tahirovic.
* The senior recorded a 27-1 overall record at No. 1 singles.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Year
Gustavs Dambins, Boston University, Fr.
* Dambins recorded a 7-0 record in No. 4 and No. 5 singles matches against Patriot League opponents this season.
* He ended his freshman year with a 12-6 overall singles record on courts three, four and five.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Doubles Team of the Year
Sasha Panyan/Luke Garner, Navy
* Panyan and Garner earned a 12-5 overall record this season in No. 1 doubles for the Midshipmen.
* The duo concluded the year 4-0 in Patriot League play on court one.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year
Dejan Stankovic, Boston University
* Stankovic guided the Terriers to a 21-8 overall record and a 6-0 mark in Patriot League action.
* BU captured their first Patriot League championship title in program history after defeating five-time defending champions No. 2 Navy, 4-3.
2024 Men’s Tennis All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Player of the Year – Corey Craig, Boston University, So.
Rookie of the Year – Gustavs Dambins, Boston University, Fr.
Doubles Team of the Year – Sasha Panyan/Luke Garner, Navy
Coach of the Year – Dejan Stankovic, Boston University
First Team All-Patriot League
Jake Huarte, Army West Point, Sr.
Corey Craig, Boston University, So.
Jakob Esterowitz, Boston University, So.
Amar Tahirovic, Bucknell, So.
Matt Kleiman, Lehigh, Gr.
Sasha Panyan, Navy, Sr.
Second Team All-Patriot League
Alejandro Licea, Boston University, So.
Gustavs Dambins, Boston University, Fr.
Adam Stavrakas, Bucknell, So.
Marc Blekhman, Lehigh, Jr.
Matt Cardano, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Herrick Legaspi, 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 who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.