Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Name Annual Team Award Winners
6/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
June 1, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's men's tennis team has announced its annual award winners, head coach Paul Torricelli has announced. Senior Willy Lock (Lima, Peru/Markham College) was named the 2007 Vandy Christie Award recipient, while freshman Alex Sanborn (Houston, Texas/Kinkaid) has been named the 2007 Mark Johnson Award winner. The awards were voted on by the team's coaches and players.
Lock, one of three NU seniors, earned his first-career Vandy Christie Award, which is presented annually to the player that demonstrates outstanding loyalty and dedication to Northwestern tennis.
"This is our most prestigious award and Willy was an overwhelming choice," Torricelli said. "He has been an amazing competitor throughout his career and everyone who has encountered Willy has been won over by his great heart and desire."
"His teammates, opposing players and coaches all have nothing but the highest regard for him. He's been a pleasure to coach and I will really miss him next season. He is a very worthy recipient of the Vandy Christie Award."
The Award was established in 1989 and is named in honor of the former NU player, coach and administrator. Christie played at NU from 1955-57, becoming NU's first Big Ten singles champion. He returned to Northwestern to coach from 1976-83 and was named director of development in 1984. He held the position until 1990.
Sanborn becomes the first freshman to earn the Mark Johnson award. The award, established in 2003, is presented to the player who demonstrates outstanding effort, commitment and desire to improve. It's given annually to the team's hardest working player.
"To win this in his first year says it all about Alex," Torricelli said. "I do not remember a single practice or match where he gave us anything less than his best. His energy and enthusiasm at practice were constant and a major reason for his development this year."
Alex figured out very early on that hard work is what it takes to succeed at this level. Mark would have loved working with him!"
The award is named after the former NU assistant coach who served from 1988-92.
