Mikael Carpenter’s junior season at Morgan State is one for the record books.
The JTCC alumnus, who finished the year 13-2 playing No. 1 singles, was recognized for his sensational record when he was named 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Tennis Player of the Year.
The honor proved historic as Carpenter was the first Morgan State player to earn the Player of the Year accolade.
“It’s a great feeling knowing I’m the first person from Morgan State to win the award, and I’m excited to win more next year,” said a beaming Carpenter who received the award at the team’s postseason banquet.
Carpenter began playing at JTCC at 8-years-old when he received a scholarship to participate in JTCC’s Neighborhood Youth Outreach program. Advancing from Junior Champs to the Champions program, Carpenter is grateful for his time at JTCC.
“JTCC gave me a lot of life goals outside of tennis, and I want to give a big shout-out to Coach Oliver, Ali, and Megan for helping me with my tennis game and getting me to where I am today,” said Carpenter who is already looking forward to his senior season.
“As a team, I want us to come back with more chemistry, and individually, I’m going to try to stay on top of myself and make sure I hold everyone else accountable,” stated Carpenter.
JTCC General Manager of Player Development Megan Moulton-Levy is proud of Mikeal’s development on and off the court.
“Mikeal is near and dear to my heart as I’ve had the great privilege of being his mentor for the past five years,” commented Moulton-Levy. “This young man adores playing tennis. To win the Player of the Year award and be the first in school history is a culmination of his hard work and dreams. He’s a special human being, and I’m so proud of everything he’s achieving in his collegiate career.”
