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

College Sports Communicators Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (May 12, 2026) – Matt Crossland, Rafael Lessa, Andres Valverde Gonzalez and Philipp Wottgen were selected to the College Sports Communicators' NCAA Division III men's tennis team, the organization announced Tuesday. The four Cardinals were honored for their performances both in the classroom and on the court this past academic year.

Crossland, one of two graduating seniors for the Cardinals this year, was a force in doubles this year for the Cardinals. He posted a 16-7 record in doubles, going a perfect 6-0 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. Crossland posted a 14-4 mark from the number three spot in the doubles lineup. He graduated this month with his degree in journalism.

Lessa found his spot in the number four slot of the singles lineup for the Cardinals this spring, going 11-5 in duals from the number four spot. He went 16-10 overall, and logged a near-perfect 6-1 record in CCIW play. Lessa, a junior from Brazil, is currently studying economics and finance.  

Valverde Gonzalez tied for the team lead in total singles wins this year with 18, going 18-10 overall. He spent the majority of his duals in the number three spot in the lineup, where he went 13-5. In conference play, Valverde Gonzalez came just one win short of a spotless singles record, going 6-1. He also tied for the team lead in total doubles wins with 17 after posting a 17-12 record for the Cardinals. He went 8-6 in the number one spot and 6-2 in the number two spot while turning in a 5-2 CCIW record. Valverde Gonzalez, a junior out of Spain, is studying mechanical engineering.

Wottgen paced the team from the number slot of the singles lineup all season. Despite going 13-14 overall, he turned in a 5-2 CCIW record to help the Cardinals to the regular season title. He posted the same conference record in doubles (5-2) while going 6-6 from the number two spot in the doubles lineup. Wottgen, a sophomore from Germany, is currently studying neuroscience.

The Cardinals went 15-8 in the regular season and clinched the CCIW regular season title with a 7-0 conference record. North Central fell to Carthage College in the championship match of the conference tournament, coming up just short of its third consecutive tournament title.