Stockton, Calif. - Pacific senior Sem Verbeek was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association 2016 Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award winner Tuesday, adding to his long list of awards for his standout senior campaign.
The Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award is the ITA's longest-running award and goes to a Division I men's player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics and has had outstanding tennis playing accomplishments.
Verbeek, a native of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, capped his career with the Tigers with a 19-2 singles record and 15-5 doubles mark. He went 9-0 in West Coast Conference play and a 10-0 mark against conference opponents in singles. Verbeek earned WCC Player of the Year honors and First Team All-West Coast Conference.
"It's very humbling to receive such an amazing honor. However, this isn't my award only; it's an award for Pacific Tennis that I get to receive," Verbeek said. "It's a testament to all the hard work that everyone involved has put in, so I sincerely hope that everyone that works with the Pacific Tennis program sees this award as as much their recognition as it is mine. The culture and environment put in place has allowed me to push myself as an athlete and as a person, so I'm extremely grateful to those who have believed in me and allowed me to explore my values."
The Tigers' team leader, he was voted team captain as a sophomore. In two subsequent seasons, no captaincy vote was discussed or considered by the team or head coach Ryan Redondo, let alone held.
Academically, Verbeek graduated from Pacific in May with a degree in Health and Exercise Science, and carried a 3.94 GPA into the spring semester.
Of the tennis court, he was heavily involved in university and athletic charity work. Verbeek spearheaded several events with his team, including the Read to Win program, Rotary Read-In, Adopt-a-Family, Pacific Sports Day for local elementary school children and the School of Education's Math Steeplechase. He represented the WCC in leadership programs and events. Verbeek also won the WCC Male Sportsmanship Award, which encompasses all sports.
Earlier this month, Verbeek earned the ITA 2015-16 Northwest Region Senior Player of the Year, Most Improved Player (Senior), and Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.
"I am so happy and proud of Sem for winning the Rafael Osuna National Sportsmanship Award," Redondo said. "It's the oldest collegiate award in college tennis and perhaps, one can say, the most rewarding due to the fact that encompasses the whole student-athlete experience; athletics, academics, leadership, and sportsmanship. The other candidates were absolutely spectacular and that is a huge testament to the other coaches in this country that are promoting and demanding their athletes to compete at the highest level with sportsmanship and honor first and foremost. Sem absolutely deserves this award amongst the other seven awards he won this year. Sem has been an outstanding ambassador to the University of the Pacific and will be for the rest of his life. It will be a sad day when Sem leaves campus as he has been such a staple to this program and department, but, on the other hand it's extremely exciting to see his teammates and the future freshmen grow and thrive in the legacy he has left. A legacy that is founded on character, discipline, and love."
The Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award was established in 1969 in memory of Rafael Osuna, who was killed in a plane accident at the age of 30. Osuna is one of the all-time great collegiate tennis players, winning three NCAA doubles titles (1961-63) and the 1962 NCAA singles title.
