Two senior members of the Flames men’s tennis team, Josh Wilson and Christiaan Worst, were named to the 2023 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division Men’s Tennis All-State teams on Wednesday.

Wilson received placement on the VaSID All-State singles second team for the second straight year. Meanwhile, Wilson and his doubles partner Worst, garnered inclusion on the VaSID All-State doubles second team.

For Wilson, this is the fourth time being recognized as an all-state singles team member. Wilson was first honored as a first team member in 2019 and a second team honoree in 2020 and 2022.

It is the second all-state doubles team honor for Worst after he was included on the 2021 second team with Deji Thomas-Smith.

Liberty enjoyed a 17-10 2023 season which initially concluded in the ASUN Championship semifinals with a loss to host North Florida. The Flames were invited to participate in the inaugural Universal Tennis NIT Championship in Peachtree City, Ga. The Flames bested UC San Diego, No. 60 Denver and No. 69 Vanderbilt in the final to claim the first-ever NIT Championship title.

The VaSID All-State program honors the top collegiate student-athletes in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Nomination and voting are conducted by sports information directors within the Commonwealth. VaSID names 44 all-state teams in 23 sports each year, an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in Virginia.

Josh Wilson (VaSID All-State singles second team)

Wilson enjoyed a senior season that included being named the ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year for the third straight year and to the ASUN All-Conference first team. The Reigate, United Kingdom native was named as the ASUN Player of the Week twice (Feb. 1, March 22), giving him eight total (tied for ASUN record) over his Liberty career.

Wilson posted a 17-14 overall record and an 11-9 (5-1 ASUN) spring season record as he played all his matches in the No. 1 position. The senior became the Liberty all-time singles wins leader at 92. Wilson topped No. 29 Ozan Baris (6-4, 6-2).

Josh Wilson/Christiaan Worst (VaSID All-State doubles second team)

The senior duo of Wilson and Worst went 22-12 together playing their matches together in the No. 1 position. The pairs’ 22 victories are tied for the second most wins by a doubles pairing in program history. The pairing earned an ITA national ranking of No. 74 on March 7 including topping the No. 68 pair of Younes Lalami and Brandon Perez of Old Dominion, 6-0. The two were 3-2 when facing ranked doubles teams, including a victory over Portland’s No. 10 Sema Pankin/Eleftherios Neos and UC Santa Barbara’s No. 40 Phillip Jordan/Kai Brady in the fall at the ITA All-American Championships.

This is the third straight year the Flames earned all-state doubles honors (2022: Nicaise Muamba/Rafael Marques Da Silva, 2021: Deji Thomas-Smith, Christiaan Worst).

2023 VaSID All-State Men’s Tennis University Division

VaSID Player of the Year – Chris Rodesch (Virginia)

VaSID Coach of the Year – Andres Pedroso (Virginia)

VaSID Rookie of the Year – Cosme Rolland De Ravel (Old Dominion)

VaSID All-State First Team

Singles

Chris Rodesch (Virginia)

Ryan Goetz (Virginia)

Jeffrey von der Schulenburg (Virginia)

Iñaki Montes de la Torre (Virginia)

Holden Koons (James Madison)

Alex Kiefer (Virginia)

Doubles

Jeffrey von der Schulenburg/Chris Rodesch (Virginia)

Iñaki Montes/Ryan Goetz (Virginia)

Brandon Perez/Younes Lalami (Old Dominion)

VaSID All-State Second Team

Singles

Joseph Brailovsky (William & Mary)

Cosme Rolland de Ravel (Old Dominion)

Josh Wilson (Liberty)

George Davis (William & Mary)

Ryan Fishback (Virginia Tech)

Jakob Cadonau (Old Dominon)

Doubles

Christiaan Worst/Josh Wilson (Liberty)

Bill Duo/George Davis (William & Mary)

Jordan Chrysostom/Ryan Fishback (Virginia Tech)