ARLINGTON, TEXAS – UT Tyler tennis was heavily represented on Wednesday evening at the Lone Star Conference tennis awards banquet as they picked up 25 total honors.
Head coach
Chris Bizot was named the Lone Star Conference Women's Coach of the Year after leading the Patriots to their first LSC Championship in program history. This is his third Coach of the Year honor, matching two men's coach of the year awards in 2023 and 2025.
Carel Wessel was named the LSC Men's Senior of the Year after another dominant season on the court. He went 17-3 overall in singles plays, including a perfect 6-0 in the #1 and #2 lines. He also added in a doubles record of 10-10 and 5-2 in LSC play. Wessel was also named First Team Singles, Second Team Doubles, and to the Sportsmanship Team.
Samuel Antwi earned the LSC Newcomer of the Year award after launching himself onto the scene this season in huge fashion. The transfer is undefeated in dual match play this season at 21-0 overall and is now 10-2 in doubles action. He was also named First Team Singles and Second Team Doubles.
Yona Bancarel was named the Sportsmanship Player of the Year for her efforts on the court. Bancarel is 15-4 in singles play this year and 13-8 in doubles action. She was also named First Team Singles and First Team Doubles.
Daniil Felker was named a Second Team Singles and Second Team doubles performer. He is 8-2 overall in singles play this year and pairs with teammate Wessel in doubles for an 8-8 record overall. Felker, a marketing major, was also named to the All-Academic Team for his efforts in the classroom. This is the second straight season he was an academic team nod.
Malo Poulesquen earned his own spot on Second Team Singles after going 15-7 on the season, with seven of those wins coming in the #2 line.
Artiom Dorofeev and
Jordi Garcia Portell each earned selection for Honorable Mention Singles. Dorofeev is 12-6 on the year in singles, including 8-5 in the #1 line. Garcia Portell is 12-5 on the season with seven of those wins coming in the #5 line. Garcia Portell, a finance major, also earned a nod on the All-Academic Team for the first time in his career.
Natalia Gorzny joins her doubles partner Bancarel on First Team doubles, and was also selecte to Second Team Singles. She is 15-6 on the season in singles play, with 13 of those wins coming in line #2. With Bancarel she is 13-7 in doubles play. Gorzny, a Management major, was also named to the All-Academic Team, now becoming the fourth player in program history to earn the award.
Paula Castellanos was named both Honorable Mention Singles and Doubles. She went 14-5 in singles this season and 15-8 in doubles. Her doubles partner
Maria Antonio Ortega was also named Honorable Mention Doubles as the pair went 10-1 on the season with nine wins in the #2 line.
Claudia Di Leonardo rounded out the LSC accolades for the Patriots with an Honorable Mention Singles nod. She went 10-7 for the season with six wins in the #6 line.
