Kansas Wesleyan Take Program to Next Level with Local Players

Photo courtesy of Kansas Wesleyan University Sports Information Department

 

 

Kansas Wesleyan is a private university located in Salina, Kansas. The town of approximately 47,000 in north central Kansas prides itself on its thriving tennis community. 

 

 

Josh Molino, in his fourth season as head coach of the men’s tennis program for the Coyotes, is working on sewing the fabric of a tradition of excellence of tennis at Wesleyan. 

 

 

Kansas Wesleyan is a school of approximately 800 students, the majority of which play sports. The campus is home to 14 competitive sports teams. 

 

 

And he believes he has the personnel to build a rich tennis tradition on the Wesleyan campus. How? He’s finding juniors from right within the USTA Missouri Valley section. He believes the crop of talent within the five-state area is filled with kids who can take his program to the next level.

 

 

But it’s not just about the type of player - it’s the type of person. It’s wanting to help others, it’s the desire to be a stellar student. In 2020 the men’s tennis team won the ITA National Community Service Award. The team logged over 250 hours of community service in 2019, volunteering at the local animal shelter, working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and more.

 

 

“We are very fortunate to have a great deal of support from the community of Salina,” Molino said. “Giving back is something that is part of the NAIA core values. We are just really proud to be able to demonstrate to kids that there is a bigger picture out there than just tennis.”

 

 

That philosophy continues today and in 2021 a member of the team - senior Shingi Chingaya - was named as the NAIA ITA National Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. He was named the NAIA ITA Central Region winner in June and named the National Award winner weeks later.

The prestigious Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to men's and women's student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements in ways that embody the legacy of tennis icon and humanitarian Arthur Ashe Jr.

Molino said he could not think of one more fitting. Chingaya will continue to help others even after leaving the tennis program - as a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Salina Regional Health Center. He was the president of the Multicultural Club, as well as the Student Nurses Association on campus.

 

 

“Not to take away from past winners, but he was such a significant member of our team and campus. He was just the face of the university. He was homecoming king, our team captain. He’s the type of player and person  we are going to try and attract to our program. We were so excited for him. He was a good player, but he stood for so much more, especially in such a tough climate right now.”

 

 

The incoming class is one that Molino believes will embody the same ideals - and play some excellent tennis. 

 

 

One of those players is Daniel Harkin of Manhattan. Harikin won the Class 6A state singles title after finishing third in 2019. 

 

 

“Daniel was a really big get for us,” Molino said. “We were really lucky for him and the group of kids coming in to choose us. Daniel comes from a good tennis pedigree and all of those guys are the building blocks.”

 

 

Alex Sherer of Rossville, Kansas took home the 3A singles tennis title this spring and also signed with the Coyotes. Also signed in 2021 is Braeden Lewis of Edmond North in Oklahoma, who was a member of the Class 6A runner-up doubles team. 

 

 

Of the 27 members of the Kansas Wesleyan tennis team, 21 are from the five-state Missouri Valley section. 

 

 

Molino said when junior players are developing their tennis game and want to play tennis at the collegiate level, they often look solely at Division I or Division II programs. Molino wants junior players to know that NAIA programs are an excellent option. 

 

 

When recruiting players, Molino is interested in their skills on the court, but also their career aspirations, goals on and off the court and how giving back to the community fits into their life.

 

 

“For us I want to develop the individual and really focus on the academic portion. That really translates to the court. Sleeping, nutrition and workout all goes towards the whole person. We want to turn our athletes into great tennis players but even better people.”

USTA Missouri Valley International Tennis Association Award Winners

 

Division I

Regional Award Winners

 

 

Men

 

• Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: Danny Bryan, Wichita State University

• ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Justin DeSanto, Wichita State University

• ITA Rookie of the Year: Nathan Han, University of Oklahoma

• ITA Most Improved Senior: Murkel Dellien, Wichita State University

• ITA Senior Player of the Year: Murkel Dellien, Wichita State University

• ITA Community Service Award: University of Nebraska

 

Women

 

• Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: Boomer Saia, Iowa State University

• ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Kenna Kilgo, Iowa State University

• Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Elise van Heuvelen, University of Iowa

• ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award: Marta Oliveira, University of Missouri

• ITA Rookie of the Year: Alexa Noel, University of Iowa

• ITA Most Improved Senior: Martina Capurro, University of Oklahoma

• ITA Senior Player of the Year: Martina Okalova, University of Tulsa

• ITA Community Service Award: Kansas State University

• ITA Community Service Award Honorable Mention: University of Nebraska, Omaha

 

Other ITA Award Winners from USTA Missouri Valley area:

 

• ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award: Anna Riedmiller, University of Denver

• ITA Most Improved Senior: Anna Riedmiller, University of Denver

• Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Victoria Flores, Georgia Tech

• ITA Senior Player of the Year: Marie Norris, TCU

• ITA Senior Player of the Year: Zeke Clark, University of Illinois

   

 

Division II

Regional Award Winners

 

 

Men

• ITA Senior Player of the Year, Central Region: Juan Scoppetta, Southeastern Oklahoma State University

• ITA Senior Player of the Year, Midwest Region: Nico Hadeler, Drury University

 

Women

• Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: Jaron Maestas, University of Central Oklahoma

• ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Alina Munteanu, University of Central Oklahoma

• ITA Rookie of the Year, National & Central Region: Mae Canete, University of Central Oklahoma

• ITA Most Improved Senior: Logan Morrissey, Washburn University

• ITA Community Service Award: Missouri Western State University

   

   

   

Division III

Regional Award Winners

 

 

Women

• ITA Rookie of the Year: Karen Gao, Washington University in St. Louis

   

 

 

NAIA National Award Winners

 

Men

• Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Shingi Chingaya, Kansas Wesleyan University

   

   

   

NAIA Regional Awards

 

Men

• Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: Chance Joost, William Woods University

• ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Keiran President, William Woods University

• Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Shingi Chingaya, Kansas Wesleyan University

• ITA Rookie of the Year: Ben Grumley, William Woods University

• ITA Most Improved Senior: Santiago Bracco, Southwestern College

• ITA Senior Player of the Year: Miguel Abete, Midland University

• ITA Community Service Award: Southwestern College

 

 

Women

• Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: Chance Joost, William Woods University

• ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Edward Sengai, Kansas Wesleyan University

• Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Alexa Powers, Southwestern College

• ITA Rookie of the Year: Mariana Ochoa, Southwestern College

• ITA Most Improved Senior: Ana Zavala, William Woods University

• ITA Community Service Award: Kansas Wesleyan University

• ITA Community Service Award Honorable Mention: Southwestern College