Senior TJ Fumagalli of Air Force women's tennis earned the 2020 Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Honor for the Mountain Region, announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). It is the second consecutive Ashe Award for Fumagalli, who was also recently named Mountain West Women's Tennis Player of the Year.
"I am really proud of all that TJ has done to represent the Air Force Academy on and off the court," head coach Kim Gidley said. "This is one of the most prestigious awards the region recognizes. Not only is TJ a great competitor, but she is fair and only wants to win the right way. When she loses, she takes it hard internally, but is always gracious to her opponent. As for leadership, TJ has led this team the past three years, both on and off the court. A great honor for TJ!"
Fumagalli recently graduated from the Academy with a school-record 228 wins (next closest is 203). The New Braunfels, Texas, native earned All-MW singles honors for the fourth time, posting a 19-8 mark in singles and 11-3 mark in dual singles this season. She led the team with a 39-13 combined record for the season. Fumagalli is the school record holder in 11 of 12 win categories and was on her way towards the 12th record before the season was cut short before conference play began. She caps her career with 114 singles and 114 doubles wins--both school records. Fumagalli was the first player in program history to earn national rankings in both singles and doubles and earn all-conference honors in both singles and doubles all four years.
This is the third Ashe Award for the Fumagalli family, as TJ's brother, Lucas, earned the award for Air Force men's tennis as a senior in 2017.
Fumagalli is one of 12 regional Arthur Ashe Award winners. She is now amongst the finalists for the National Ashe Award, announced later in the year.
- Courtesy of Air Force Media Relations for them.com | May 19, 2020