ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award
Jonas Ziverts from the University of Arizona has been named the 2023 ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award winner.
Ziverts was recently recognized by the PAC 12 as the Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the year, the most prestigious award given out by the conference. He has excelled on the tennis court as a two time NCAA performer and helped Arizona to two consecutive PAC 12 regular season titles.
Over his career at Arizona, Ziverts has been named the 2019 Southwest Rookie of the Year, 2019 and 2021 All-Pac 12 Second Team, and 2022 All-Pac 12 First Team. He has a career high singles ranking of No. 19 and has played at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions throughout his entire career.
This past fall, Ziverts finished as a runner-up at the 2022 Battle in the Bay Tournament and was part of the doubles pair that advanced to the quarterfinals, the furthest an Arizona player has ever made it in both the singles and doubles tournament
He has also excelled off the court with a stellar 3.80 G.P.A. in the Eller Business College. He was a two-time member the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll and was a 2021 and 2022 ITA Scholar-Athlete.
Ziverts has been voted by his teammates the past three years to be our team captain. He has led the team in more ways than one, including multiple community service awards, highest men's gpa on campus, and most recently giving the senior speech at the University of Arizona CATSYS award show.
A Letter From Head Coach Clancy Shields
Jonas,
Congratulations on being the recipient of the Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award!
It has been an honor and privilege to be your coach these past five years. I have had the pleasure to witness one of the greatest transformations of a player and person during your time here at the University of Arizona.
Six years ago, many people believed you would never play tennis again. Sitting in that hospital room, I know you may have believed it too. However, no pain that you suffer or no trial you experience is wasted. All that you have endured has built your character, expanded your soul, and given you the patience to overcome life’s challenges. I’ve always believed that those who suffer the most, have the most to give. Your attitude, work ethic, and care for others has been infectious within our program, and the true measure of your success will be in how you have positively affected your teammates, coaches, and the community of Tucson.
You have brought great honor to our program and the university. I know that you will be successful in whatever you choose to do in life. You have aspired to be the best in everything you do and have set a standard of excellence for all of us to follow. Thank you for being a Wildcat and enriching all our lives for the past five years!
Congratulations Cappie,
Coach