Video: Juan Sebastian Perez
ROCK HILL, S.C.—Senior Juan Sebastian Perez (Ecuador) was tabbed as a second team selection for the South Atlantic Conference singles team following a solid final year in the orange and blue.
Perez's honors came from an 11-9 record competing in the second slot of coach Jean Love's singles lineup during the 2016 season. The senior compiled a 7-4 record in SAC play and won seven matches in-a-row from March 18 to April 2.
Over the course of the season, Perez won a trio of three-set singles matches. The senior took down Wingate's Connor Kudrick 1-6, 7-6 and 6-3 on March 19 and then followed suit a match later in defeating North Greenville's Sergio Araujo 4-6, 6-1 and 7-5 on March 23. Perez then took a three-set victory over Lee's Rhys Milne 1-6, 7-6 and 6-4 later in the season on April 8.
"This award means that all the hard work I put forth has paid off and that all the confidence that coach and the people around me have transmitted in me has worked," Perez said of the honor. "It feels really great. Every match is a challenge because in playing at the top of the lineup, I will always be going against the best the other team has to offer. That challenge is what makes this experience better and I have really enjoyed it."
From day one, Perez would slated at the top of Carson-Newman's when he arrived on campus in the fall of 2012. As a freshman in 2013, Perez compiled an 8-11 record at No. 1 and then followed with a 6-16 record a year later as a sophomore. As a junior, Perez finished the year with an even 8-8 record.
Perez finished his Carson-Newman career with a 33-44 record in singles play.
Prior to Perez's 2016 selection, Carson-Newman's last All-SAC pick was also the Ecuadorian following his 8-11 freshman campaign in 2013. Perez was also named an Honorable Mention for singles play following the 2014 season as a sophomore along with Joao Pedro Oliveira (Brazil) during his freshman year.
To keep up with Carson-Newman tennis, stay tuned into cneagles.com for all offseason coverage.
2016 South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Yearly Honors
First Team Doubles
Sebastian Hall/Connor Kudrick, Wingate
Tim Stierle/Jonas Winkelmann, Tusculum
Per-Erick Soler/Ander Vas, Quenns
Second Team Doubles
Leon Seiz/Tashique Kader, Tusculum
Jordan Monosky/Jacob Svantesson, Newberry
Jack Mordey/Mitchell McDonald, Catawba (T)
Tom Sizeland/Mark Watt, Coker (T)
Honorable Mention Doubles
Nicolas Ascarrunz/Paul Michael Calhoun, Anderson
Jules Athalis/Giovanni Setti, Queens
First Team Singles
Tim Stierle, Tusculum
Per-Erik Soler, Queens
Sebastian Hall, Wingate
Fernando Espana, Newberry
Tom Sizeland, Coker
Connor Kudrick, Wingate
Second Team Singles
Jules Athalis, Quees
Patrick Bauer, Lenoir-Rhyne
Jonas Winkelmann, Tusculum
William Marrafao, Coker
Juan Sebastian Perez, Carson-Newman
Fernando Tous, Newberry
Honorable Mention Singles
David Taggart, Brevard
Filippo Pezzoli, Wingate
Andor Vas, Queens
Jordan Monosky, Newberry
Josh DuToit, Wingate
Jacob Svantesson, Newberry
Player of the Year
Tim Stierle, Tusculum
Freshman of the Year
Jacob Svantesson, Newberry
Coach of the Year
Adam Jackson, Tusculum
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