TEMPE, AZ – Lewis-Clark State Tennis senior Austin Swing capped his career with the prestigious NAIA ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, announced by the ITA on Tuesday. Head coach Kai Fong and assistant coach Bonolo Arroyo Valenzuela earned West Region Men’s Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year honors, and Arroyo Valenzuela also earned the honor on the women’s side. Heidi Moyo was voted the West Region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner.
“The Arthur Ashe Award is one of the top prestigious non-tennis ITA awards,” Fong said. “Austin is the embodiment of the Heart of a Warrior mentality. He is a total package; someone you would want your daughter to marry, someone you would want your children to emulate. His selfless nature is second to none. His academic grades are top notch with straight As. His leadership effort knew no boundaries. Austin genuinely wants the best for everyone. His actions speak volume to that. It fills my heart with joy to learn of his award. He is very deserving of it.”
Swing, a native of Middleton, Idaho, brought relentless energy to every practice and match, and pushed his teammates to achieve the very best. He was voted team captain for the culture he helped create during his four years on the team. In the classroom, Swing worked just as tirelessly and maintained a 3.95 grade-point average as an accounting major with a minor in pre-law and made himself available to help teammates that needed help on a variety of subjects. Working in the community as well, Swing volunteered with a number of organizations in the local community and understood the value of community service.
Fong and Arroyo Valenzuela coached the Warrior men to their first Top-25 ranking since 2021. LC State upset multiple ranked opponents throughout the season and just missed an at-large bid into the national tournament. On the women’s side, Arroyo Valenzuela, a former student-athlete at LC State, helped coach the Warriors to an appearance in the GSAC tournament championship.
Moyo was nominated as LC State Women’s Tennis’ Heart of a Warrior nominee each of the last two seasons for her conduct on and off the court. The senior from Zimbabwe was a key contributor in doubles play with 10 wins and was one of the loudest voices in the Tennis Center cheering on her teammates in every match.
