Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (April 7, 2026) – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin announced North Central's Philipp Wottgen as its men's tennis player of the week this afternoon after he led the Cardinals from the top spot of the singles lineup to a 3-0 weekend. Wottgen went a perfect 6-0 between singles and doubles play to earn the first weekly award of his career.

Wottgen, a sophomore from Leinburg, Germany, started his week with a dominant victory in doubles against Carroll University with his partner Jack Briggs. The duo coasted to a 6-1 win for their first of three victories together over the weekend. In singles, Wottgen dismantled his opponent, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. North Central won the match 7-0.

That same night, Wottgen and the No. 34-ranked Cardinals hosted Elmhurst University, another match they won 7-0. In doubles, Wottge and Briggs took care of business again, winning 6-0. Wottgen carried his clean sheet into singles play, where he blanked his opponent 6-0, 6-0.

On Saturday, the Cardinals finished their weekend by traveling to Bloomington to take on Illinois Wesleyan University. Wottgen and Briggs put together another shutout in doubles, winning 6-0, while Wottgen had little trouble in his singles match, dispatching his opponent 6-1, 6-2. North Central won the match 7-0.

The Cardinals outscored their opponents 21-0 on the weekend. Wottgen, between singles and doubles, lost just eight of the 62 games he participated in over the weekend.

Wottgen has now won five consecutive singles matches, helping him to eclipse the .500 mark, as he currently holds a record of 12-11 while going 9-8 from the number one spot. In conference duals, Wottgen is 4-1 in singles, helping the Cardinals get out to a 5-0 start in CCIW play.

North Central hosts Augustana on Sunday at a location to be announced later this week.