Photo by: EJ Eckles
Michael Zheng Named Ivy League Player of the Year; Lions Staff Named Coaching Staff of the Year
4/24/2025 1:01:00 PM | Men's Tennis
In total, five Lions earn all-conference honors
NEW YORK – Columbia men's tennis junior Michael Zheng has been named the Ivy League Player of the Year, meanwhile the Lions' coaching staff led by Bidyut K. Goswami Head Coach of Men's Tennis Howard Endelman '87CC was named the Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year. Nikolas Kotzen, Hugo Hashimoto, Max Westphal, and Sachin Palto also earned all-conference accolades.
This is the second time that Zheng has been named the Ivy League Player of the Year, he also earned the award in 2023 as a first-year player. Zheng becomes the first Columbia player to be named Player of the Year at least twice since Victor Pham earned that honor in 2018 and '19. He is just the seventh athlete to earn the award two or more times since the awards inception in 1987.
Zheng also took home First Team All-Ivy League honors in singles and doubles. It is the third-straight year he has earned first team honors as both a singles and doubles player. In singles play, Zheng went 34-4 playing in the No. 1 spot. In the spring he boasted a 17-3 mark, which included a perfect 6-0 mark in Ivy league play.
In doubles play he went 20-12, including a 12-6 mark in the spring with partner Nicolas Kotzen. The duo went 4-0 in Ivy League play together.
Kotzen also earned first team honors in singles play and doubles. It is the second time in his career he has earned all-conference honors in both singles play and doubles play, last year he earned second team honors in both. In 2024-25, Kotzen went 25-10 at the No. 2 spot. In the spring he boasted an overall record of 14-3, including a 5-0 record in Ivy League play. After losing to Stanford's Max Basing on Feb. 14, he has gone on a 14-match unbeaten streak. In doubles play this year he has gone 25-11 overall.
Four additional Lions earned second team honors. Max Westphal took home second team accolades in singles play and doubles play. Hugo Hashimoto earned second team honors in singles play, while Sachin Palta earned second team doubles honors with Westphal.
This is the third time Westphal has earned second team honors in both. In singles play this season he went 15-3, including a stellar 5-0 mark playing at the No. 3 spot in conference action. In doubles he was 25-10, with Palta he was 16-6 and 5-1 in conference play.
Hashimoto earns second team accolades for the second time in his career. The senior from San Jose, Calif., posted a career-best 23-10 in singles play. Including a 12-5 mark in the spring. In Ivy League play he went 3-1.
Palta partnered primarily with Westphal in doubles play. Individually he went 19-11 in 2024-25.
"We are extremely proud of our players who have shown amazing commitment to our program," Endelman said. "For that many guys to receive All-Ivy honors shows how much our players have selflessly bought into a culture valuing the team over individual achievement."
This is the first season that the Ivy League recognizes coaching staffs, it is the third-straight year that Endelman has been recognized by the conference, having been named Ivy League Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2024. Columbia captured its 18th conference title, and 13th outright title. Under Endelman, the Lions have won eight conference titles.
"The Coach of the Year award recognizes the dedication of everyone involved with the program day-to-day plus the encouragement and support of special people behind the scenes who have given us a platform to succeed," Endelman said.
Columbia awaits its postseason fate on Monday when the NCAA announces the NCAA Championship field. The Lions secured the Ivy League's automatic berth with a win last Sunday over Dartmouth. The selection show airs at 5:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Men's Tennis by following the Lions on X (@CULionsMTEN), Instagram (@culionsmten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
This is the second time that Zheng has been named the Ivy League Player of the Year, he also earned the award in 2023 as a first-year player. Zheng becomes the first Columbia player to be named Player of the Year at least twice since Victor Pham earned that honor in 2018 and '19. He is just the seventh athlete to earn the award two or more times since the awards inception in 1987.
Zheng also took home First Team All-Ivy League honors in singles and doubles. It is the third-straight year he has earned first team honors as both a singles and doubles player. In singles play, Zheng went 34-4 playing in the No. 1 spot. In the spring he boasted a 17-3 mark, which included a perfect 6-0 mark in Ivy league play.
In doubles play he went 20-12, including a 12-6 mark in the spring with partner Nicolas Kotzen. The duo went 4-0 in Ivy League play together.
Kotzen also earned first team honors in singles play and doubles. It is the second time in his career he has earned all-conference honors in both singles play and doubles play, last year he earned second team honors in both. In 2024-25, Kotzen went 25-10 at the No. 2 spot. In the spring he boasted an overall record of 14-3, including a 5-0 record in Ivy League play. After losing to Stanford's Max Basing on Feb. 14, he has gone on a 14-match unbeaten streak. In doubles play this year he has gone 25-11 overall.
Four additional Lions earned second team honors. Max Westphal took home second team accolades in singles play and doubles play. Hugo Hashimoto earned second team honors in singles play, while Sachin Palta earned second team doubles honors with Westphal.
This is the third time Westphal has earned second team honors in both. In singles play this season he went 15-3, including a stellar 5-0 mark playing at the No. 3 spot in conference action. In doubles he was 25-10, with Palta he was 16-6 and 5-1 in conference play.
Hashimoto earns second team accolades for the second time in his career. The senior from San Jose, Calif., posted a career-best 23-10 in singles play. Including a 12-5 mark in the spring. In Ivy League play he went 3-1.
Palta partnered primarily with Westphal in doubles play. Individually he went 19-11 in 2024-25.
"We are extremely proud of our players who have shown amazing commitment to our program," Endelman said. "For that many guys to receive All-Ivy honors shows how much our players have selflessly bought into a culture valuing the team over individual achievement."
This is the first season that the Ivy League recognizes coaching staffs, it is the third-straight year that Endelman has been recognized by the conference, having been named Ivy League Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2024. Columbia captured its 18th conference title, and 13th outright title. Under Endelman, the Lions have won eight conference titles.
"The Coach of the Year award recognizes the dedication of everyone involved with the program day-to-day plus the encouragement and support of special people behind the scenes who have given us a platform to succeed," Endelman said.
Columbia awaits its postseason fate on Monday when the NCAA announces the NCAA Championship field. The Lions secured the Ivy League's automatic berth with a win last Sunday over Dartmouth. The selection show airs at 5:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Men's Tennis by following the Lions on X (@CULionsMTEN), Instagram (@culionsmten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
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