Winston Lin - Hall of Fame
Winston Lin
- Induction:
- 2026
- Class:
- 2015
Winston Lin established himself as one of the most accomplished men’s tennis players in Columbia history, with a sustained record of success at the highest levels of collegiate tennis.
A four-year standout for the Lions from 2011-15, Lin was a two-time All-American, four-time All-Ivy League singles selection, the 2012 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, and the 2014 Ivy League Player of the Year. He finished his career ranked among the nation’s elite, rising as high as No. 8 in the ITA preseason singles rankings and ending the 2013-14 season ranked No. 17 nationally.
When asked what sets Lin apart, legendary head men’s tennis coach Bid Goswami had this to say: “Every time I see him play, I think, ‘Wow, you can’t teach heart to a young man. In my 33 years [as Lions’ head coach], I have never seen anybody as dedicated as Winston.”
Lin made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2012. He posted a remarkable 21-1 overall singles record, including a perfect 7-0 mark in Ivy League play. Competing primarily at No. 2 singles while also earning time at No. 1, Lin went 9-1 in dual matches at the top two positions and won his final six Ivy League matches in straight sets. He also recorded a 14-6 doubles mark, including a 5-2 Ivy League record, on his way to Ivy League Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Ivy honors.
His breakthrough continued during the 2012-13 campaign. Lin was again named first-team All-Ivy League and finished the season ranked No. 81 nationally. He posted a 13-7 dual-match record at No. 1 singles and went 24-14 overall. Among his signature victories was a three-set upset of Princeton’s Matija Pecotic, then the No. 3-ranked player in the country, at the ECAC Indoor Championships. Lin also put together a five-match winning streak, defeating opponents from Binghamton, George Washington, Texas Tech, William & Mary, and Nebraska.
The 2013-14 season marked the decisive chapter of Lin’s Columbia career. He finished with a team-best 31 singles victories and went a perfect 16-0 in dual matches at No. 1 singles. His season included victories over nationally ranked opponents from Georgia, Washington, TCU and Vanderbilt, including a three-set win over No. 19 Austin Gonzales that helped Columbia defeat Vanderbilt in the second round of the NCAA Championship. Lin also defeated TCU’s No. 51 Nick Chappell in the NCAA Singles Tournament.
Those accomplishments earned Lin Ivy League Player of the Year, first-team All-Ivy League and All-America honors. He finished the season ranked No. 17 in the nation and added a 15-7 doubles record, including a 5-2 Ivy League mark with teammate Mike Vermeer.
Lin carried that momentum into his senior season in 2014-15. Beginning the fall ranked No. 8 nationally, he captured the singles title at the USTA/ITA Northeast Regional Championships and swept four opponents at the Ivy Plus Invitational. In the spring, Lin continued to anchor Columbia at No. 1 singles while teaming with Vermeer in doubles.
Among his most notable senior-year victories were wins over nationally ranked opponents including Georgia’s No. 17 Wayne Montgomery, Cal’s No. 42 Andrew Goransson and Northwestern’s No. 88 Sam Shropshire. Lin also defeated Harvard’s No. 38 Denis Nguyen, Brown’s Justin To and Penn’s Jeremy Court in Ivy League competition.
In doubles, Lin and Vermeer became one of Columbia’s most reliable combinations. The duo produced significant victories throughout the 2015 campaign, including a win over Notre Dame’s No. 9-ranked Hagar/Covalschi team that helped Columbia advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. At National Indoors, they clinched the doubles point against No. 9 Texas with a 7-6 victory over Goldhoff/Berkowicz.
From his 21-1 freshman season to his nationally ranked senior campaign, Lin consistently competed at the top of the Columbia lineup and against the nation’s best. His combination of individual honors, ranked victories, NCAA success and contributions to Columbia’s nationally competitive program established his place among the Lions’ all-time tennis standouts.
A four-year standout for the Lions from 2011-15, Lin was a two-time All-American, four-time All-Ivy League singles selection, the 2012 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, and the 2014 Ivy League Player of the Year. He finished his career ranked among the nation’s elite, rising as high as No. 8 in the ITA preseason singles rankings and ending the 2013-14 season ranked No. 17 nationally.
When asked what sets Lin apart, legendary head men’s tennis coach Bid Goswami had this to say: “Every time I see him play, I think, ‘Wow, you can’t teach heart to a young man. In my 33 years [as Lions’ head coach], I have never seen anybody as dedicated as Winston.”
Lin made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2012. He posted a remarkable 21-1 overall singles record, including a perfect 7-0 mark in Ivy League play. Competing primarily at No. 2 singles while also earning time at No. 1, Lin went 9-1 in dual matches at the top two positions and won his final six Ivy League matches in straight sets. He also recorded a 14-6 doubles mark, including a 5-2 Ivy League record, on his way to Ivy League Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Ivy honors.
His breakthrough continued during the 2012-13 campaign. Lin was again named first-team All-Ivy League and finished the season ranked No. 81 nationally. He posted a 13-7 dual-match record at No. 1 singles and went 24-14 overall. Among his signature victories was a three-set upset of Princeton’s Matija Pecotic, then the No. 3-ranked player in the country, at the ECAC Indoor Championships. Lin also put together a five-match winning streak, defeating opponents from Binghamton, George Washington, Texas Tech, William & Mary, and Nebraska.
The 2013-14 season marked the decisive chapter of Lin’s Columbia career. He finished with a team-best 31 singles victories and went a perfect 16-0 in dual matches at No. 1 singles. His season included victories over nationally ranked opponents from Georgia, Washington, TCU and Vanderbilt, including a three-set win over No. 19 Austin Gonzales that helped Columbia defeat Vanderbilt in the second round of the NCAA Championship. Lin also defeated TCU’s No. 51 Nick Chappell in the NCAA Singles Tournament.
Those accomplishments earned Lin Ivy League Player of the Year, first-team All-Ivy League and All-America honors. He finished the season ranked No. 17 in the nation and added a 15-7 doubles record, including a 5-2 Ivy League mark with teammate Mike Vermeer.
Lin carried that momentum into his senior season in 2014-15. Beginning the fall ranked No. 8 nationally, he captured the singles title at the USTA/ITA Northeast Regional Championships and swept four opponents at the Ivy Plus Invitational. In the spring, Lin continued to anchor Columbia at No. 1 singles while teaming with Vermeer in doubles.
Among his most notable senior-year victories were wins over nationally ranked opponents including Georgia’s No. 17 Wayne Montgomery, Cal’s No. 42 Andrew Goransson and Northwestern’s No. 88 Sam Shropshire. Lin also defeated Harvard’s No. 38 Denis Nguyen, Brown’s Justin To and Penn’s Jeremy Court in Ivy League competition.
In doubles, Lin and Vermeer became one of Columbia’s most reliable combinations. The duo produced significant victories throughout the 2015 campaign, including a win over Notre Dame’s No. 9-ranked Hagar/Covalschi team that helped Columbia advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. At National Indoors, they clinched the doubles point against No. 9 Texas with a 7-6 victory over Goldhoff/Berkowicz.
From his 21-1 freshman season to his nationally ranked senior campaign, Lin consistently competed at the top of the Columbia lineup and against the nation’s best. His combination of individual honors, ranked victories, NCAA success and contributions to Columbia’s nationally competitive program established his place among the Lions’ all-time tennis standouts.
Friday, October 30
Friday, October 30
Friday, October 30
Wednesday, October 28
