Nathan Turtledove of the St. Lawrence University men's tennis team has been named the winner of the 2023 ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award as endowed by Billie Jean King, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Tuesday morning. 

"The ITA, with one of the most robust awards programs in all of college athletics, serves college tennis and returns the next generation of leaders, championship human beings on and off the court" said ITA CEO, Timothy Russell. "Nathan embodies everything that this prestigious award epitomizes, an outstanding tennis player who represents our sport in so many positive ways, following in the footsteps and spirit of legendary leaders Ann Lebedeff and Billie Jean King."

Turtledove will be honored with a postgraduate scholarship and special recognition at the ITA Awards Weekend in New York later this year. Additionally, the St. Lawrence men's tennis team will be awarded a $1,000 donation from the ITA in his honor.

"I am very excited and proud of Nathan for being the recipient of the Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award," proclaimed St. Lawrence Head Coach Neil Caniga. "Nathan's engagement with St. Lawrence and the community has been amazing over his four years and he has done a great job representing our tennis program and University. He is a fantastic leader and teammate who has set a strong example for his peers. I look forward to seeing what Nathan will accomplish in his next steps post St. Lawrence."

The ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award as endowed by Billie Jean King was created to honor a recent college graduate who played college tennis and demonstrated excellence on and off the court, leadership on his or her team as well as on his or her college campus and in his or her community. The recipient of the award will have demonstrated grit (i.e., passion and perseverance towards long-term goals), a commitment to social justice and equality, and will have pushed others to be leaders in addition to demonstrating his or her leadership.

"I am humbled, grateful, and honored to receive the 2023 ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award," noted Turtledove. "As a collegiate student-athlete, tennis has not only enriched my life, but also taught me valuable life lessons in leadership, personal growth, teamwork, and resilience. Representing St. Lawrence University on and off the court, in the classroom, Admissions, SAAC, and in my daily life has been the privilege of a lifetime. I believe in the power of paying it forward, as others have so graciously done for me, and I hope that my journey inspires others to embrace the same spirit of generosity and community. Together, we can create a lasting legacy that goes beyond this great sport and uplifts everyone around us."

Read more about Nathan's story HERE: