NEW YORK – Columbia men's tennis rising senior Michael Zheng was selected as the ITA National Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award recipient Friday after finishing a stellar junior campaign, that culminated with him being crowned the NCAA Individual Champion in November.

As the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's longest-running award, the Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award honors the life and legacy of the person many would call the greatest collegiate tennis player of all time. 

This ITA award, which honors one Division I men's student-athlete each year, honors the player who demonstrates many of the key tenets of Osuna's game including, but not limited to, sportsmanship, character, academic achievements, and outstanding tennis accomplishments.

This year, Zheng made history by winning the NCAA Individual Tennis Championship in the fall – becoming the first Lion to win a singles championship since Robert LeRoy in 1904 and 1906. Zheng is the first men's singles champion from an Ivy League school since Lucien Williams of Yale won the title in 1922.
 
The 2024-25 Ivy League Player of the Year finished his junior campaign with an overall record of 37-5, leading Columbia to its 18th conference title and an historic second-straight appearance in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals. Playing in the No. 1 spot, Zheng the native of Montville, N.J. also went 19-4 in dual matches. In the NCAA Regional Finals, Zheng defeated NC State's Martin Borisiouk, 6-2, 6-4, to capture his 100^th career singles win.

"The entire Columbia University community is extremely proud of Michael," Bidyut K. Goswami, Head Coach of Men's Tennis Howard Endelman '87CC, said. "To be honored with the Mr. Osuna National Sportsmanship Award in the same year that he wins the NCAA Singles Championship is a remarkable accomplishment which shows the respect that people in this sport around the country have for Michael's character."

Earlier this week, Zheng was named the Northeast Region Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award recipient. Last season, Zheng was named the ITA Player to Watch. The three-time All-American looks to add to his legacy this summer when he competes in the American Collegiate Wild Card Playoffs for a chance to win a US Open Wild Card spot.

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