EASTON, Pa. – Josh Wolfe of Lafayette men's tennis has been selected as the 2022-23 male recipient for the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award, the conference office announced on Thursday.

"Josh is the heart and soul of our men's team as he is a consummate sportsman and leader," head coach Ralph Van Ormer said. "Josh articulated the type of team we could be, namely a group with integrity and a strong sense of fair play. Thanks to Josh's effort and example, our young players have made major strides this spring. They'll remember him long after he graduates."

While leading the program as a four-year starter and team captain, Wolfe played as high as No. 1 singles and doubles. He recently graduated from Lafayette with a degree in economics and a 3.6 GPA. Wolfe collected three Dean's List awards, was the vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and helped students around College Hill as a peer mentor.

Former teammates have described him as a fierce competitor who is driven by an unshakable moral compass. After an early season loss to Fairfield, Van Ormer felt the team needed to make sportsmanship a stronger point of emphasis for the rest of the season; it was Wolfe who stood up and spoke out during a late-night team meeting. During a recent quarterfinal match at Army West Point, the Atlanta, Ga. native overruled his own "out" call. He did not look to his coach or the referee to confirm his decision, he corrected the call and played on.

"After every match throughout his four years, Josh would shake the opposing coach's hand not once but twice; after his own match and again after the final match," former teammate Ross Coleman '22  said. "There is nobody who deserves this award more."
 
Wolfe is the third Leopard to receive the honor, which is selected by administrators of the League's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
The Patriot League Award is in its 18th year after being created to honor student-athletes that uphold the principles on which the League was founded – fairness, equality, and excellence in academics and athletics, in addition to the NCAA's core principles of respect, fairness, civility, honesty and responsibility. The League's 10 full-member institutions are eligible to nominate one male and one female student-athlete. Patriot League teams from associate members are also eligible to nominate for the annual honor.