Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is pleased to announce the 2026 ITA CCCAA Men’s National Award recipients. Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in their communities throughout the season.
The CCCAA national awards include: ITA Dunlop/Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Sophomore, and the ITA Sophomore Player of the Year.
Continue reading below to find out more about each of the 2026 ITA National Award winners:
ITA Dunlop/Coach of the Year
Rick Morris | Chabot College
Rick Morris from Chabot College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Men’s Coach of the Year. Now in his 26th season at the helm of the Chabot College team, Morris and his team completed a standout season this spring, going undefeated in the regular season again NorCal teams. In addition to entering the NorCal Team Playoffs as the No. 1 seed, Chabot will also be sending all of their players to the CCCAA Individual Championships at Ojai following the State Championships. This marks the second time in which Morris has been recognized as the ITA CCCAA Men’s Coach of the Year (2006).
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Ravi Nelson | American River College
Ravi Nelson from American River College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year. As a former standout of American River and Fresno Pacific College, Nelson returned to the Beaver program and has made an immediate impact on the team. Using his experience as a high-level player, Nelson had a influential role at every practice and match this season as he never wasted a moment trying to help his players develop. His engagement in all aspects of coaching helped many players overcome difficult situations, and was a major reason why American River was able to win several close matches this season.
ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Jonathan Hinkel | Irvine Valley College
Jonathan Hinkel from the Irvine Valley College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Men’s Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. Serving as a captain for the Irvine Valley men’s tennis team, Hinkel has strived to bring all of his teammates together and to create an environment in which everyone can thrive. Leading his team to back-to-back CCCAA State Championships, Hinkel has been unbeaten in singles play and only has one loss in doubles against junior college competition. Within the community, Hinkel spends time coaching youth tennis at the same academy in which he played, and spends time volunteering at an elementary school. Hinkel has been recognized as Irvine Valley College’s Character Champion and as a nominee for the Orange Empire Conference Character Champion Award for outstanding
leadership and community engagement.
ITA Rookie of the Year
Mateusz Lipczynski | Bakersfield College
Mateusz Lipczynski from Bakersfield College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Men’s Rookie of the Year. Coming into college and immediately making an impact, Lipczynski had a standout fall season in which he shined at the ITA Regional Championships just a few months after arriving on campus. With only one loss to CCCAA competition on the season, Lipczynski ranked as the No. 2 ranked player in the CCCAA SoCal Region in the latest ITA Rankings and has compiled an impressive 20-4 record across all competition in the fall and spring. Playing from the No. 1 singles position, Lipczynski led Bakersfield to their first Conference Team Championship in 45 years this season.
ITA Most Improved Sophomore
Landon Arendt | American River College
Landon Arendt from American River College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Men’s Most Improved Sophomore. As a freshman, Arendt played from the No. 5 singles position and the No. 3 doubles position for the American River team. After earning solid results as a freshman, Arendt took the leap to the No. 1 singles and doubles positions as a Sophomore and didn’t look back this season. In the fall, Arendt began his sophomore season by reaching the quarterfinals in singles and the semifinals in doubles at the ITA Regional Championships. This spring, Arendt went undefeated in conference play and won the Big 8 Conference Tournament without dropping a set. Arendt also serves as a team leader for the American River team and is a tremendous example of what hard work can do for a players growth.
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year
Hunter Lynch | San Diego City College
Hunter Lynch from San Diego City College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Men’s Sophomore Player of the Year. Across singles and doubles play, Lynch has compiled an impressive 31-0 record against CCCAA opponents this season. In the IEAC Singles and Doubles Championships, Lynch took home both the Singles and Doubles Title alongside his twin brother Thomas. Playing from the No. 1 singles and doubles positions, Lynch led San Diego City to their second straight IEAC Conference Team Championship and contributed to a 16-match win streak during the regular season which was the longest in recent program history. In the latest ITA CCCAA SoCal Region Rankings, Lynch ranked No. 3 in singles and No. 2 in doubles alongside his brother Thomas.
