WINTER PARK, Fla. (May 14, 2026) – The Rollins men's tennis team officially concluded their special 2026 campaign with a celebratory-themed Thursday. First, the squad honored three of their own at graduation before gathering for a team meal and naming winners of the group's exceptional awards.
A trio of Tars donned the regalia and celebrated earning their degrees in front of friends and family. The accomplishments of
Richard Stoiberer,
Nico de Giacomo and
Fabian Gusic did not end on the court, as all excelled in the classroom alongside each of their teammates. Stoiberer and de Giacomo both graduated summa cum laude while Gusic was magna cum laude. All three individuals are ITA scholar athletes and served as excellent examples on and off the court. On Sunday, manager of social media and community outreach,
Eltavious Johnson, was awarded
the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion. The award was "established to honor individuals who demonstrate remarkable character, integrity, and service to humanity," and has been presented by the college for nearly 100 years. This year, the Tars' do-it-all senior, was the deserving recipient.
In the evening, the team came together once more to celebrate additional achievements with team centered awards.
Mo Anterist was named the team MVP, an honor given to the member of the squad that provided the most value to the program. Anterist led the program in solo wins, going 17-4 from lines four and five. The sophomore had a handful of victories in conference play on the singles courts and paired up with
Fabian Gusic to create the Tars electric second doubles tandem. The duo, nicknamed "The German Giants" went 16-4 from the middle, including two wins in the NCAA tournament earlier this week. Off the court, Anterist worked hard to involve the greater Rollins community, organizing themed matches and ensuring that the efforts of others across campus were recognized.
Head coach
Jay Friedman shared these words on Anterist, "I'm truly proud of the growth and development his game had this year and in terms of value."
Friedman continued, explaining that the value of the Saarbrucken native goes beyond wins on the court, "This young man spearheaded the efforts to collaborate with 7 different groups on/off campus for event days. Well earned!"
Elsewhere, the Tar Award was presented to fellow sophomore
Pietro Cappellaro. The Tar Award is given to the student-athlete that best exemplifies what it means to be a member of the Rollins men's tennis program.
"Pietro was the epitome of selfless this season," Friedman explained.
"In or out of the lineup his demeanor and commitment to the team and his and his teammates growth was relentless."
The Italian Stallion is meticulous in his preparation and was always ready to attack any opportunity he had this season. Cappellaro lost just one match in both singles and doubles and won his final five matches on the solo courts. The sophomore won a pair of conference duels in straight sets and never wavered in his support of his teammates throughout the season. Off the court, the Vicenza product was just as impressive.
"In the classroom he had a 4.0 and he took on roles within SAAC that are playing a pivotal role in trying to better our sport across the country," Friedman concluded.
"He really represented the effort, professionalism, and perspective we hope to see in all our Tars."
While this group may never step on the court as a unit together again, their legacy will live on. The men composed a 21-4 season, the most wins in over twenty years for the program and returned to the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiatus. Additionally, this year's team was the first to play at the beautiful Tennis & Golf Center on campus. The men made sure the facility was debuting with a bang, going 15-1 at home.
The group raised the bar and there are many exciting things to come for the program. For the latest on the team and all of Tars athletics, check out
Rollinssports.com.
