Editor's Note: The COVID-19 pandemic caused the abrupt end to sports for the 2019-20 academic year. We are not able to host Senior Day ceremonies to thank these seniors for their dedication to their chosen sport. As a result, we will be posting senior salutes for each senior class over the coming weeks.
 
On March 30, the NCAA Division I Council voted to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility.
 
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The first season for new Wright State men's and women's head coach Ben Roeser featured a total of four seniors – three on the men's side and one on the women's side. This Saturday, April 18, would have been Senior Day for both teams, and recognition for Javier Alvarez de la Villa, Carlos Estrada Sanchez, Param Pun and Anna Jones.
 
A native of Beavercreek, Ohio, Anna Jones is a Sports Science major who has played in 39 singles matches and 49 doubles matches over the course of her career, and says playing in third-set tiebreakers are some of her favorite memories at Wright State.
 
"Having your whole team a half court away cheering you on every point, the adrenaline that I felt during those moments is an incredible feeling…knowing that not only am I winning for myself but also my team, these moments will be cherished for the rest of my life," Jones said.
 
"Anna was our only senior (on the women's team) this year and has created so many great memories for me. The way she fought and brought energy to the team will greatly missed," Roeser said. "My favorite memory is when we played Youngstown State, the defending Horizon League champions, last season and we're missing a top lineup player. She came in and helped clinch the doubles with some heroic play."
 
A native of Madrid, Spain, Javier Alvarez de la Villa is an International Business major who has played in 81 singles matches and 68 doubles matches over the course of his career, and says clinching a win over Belmont in the third set during a 2019 match was one of his favorite memories at Wright State.
 
"The support from the team and the adrenaline I had at that moment made it a very unique moment," de la Villa said.

"Javier matured more in four years than anyone I've ever seen. He became a great leader," Roeser said. "My favorite moment is easy with him. His best win came in our best team win of 2019 over Belmont. He had a tremendous amount of pressure with everyone watching and pulled it out. It was one of the great upsets I've seen as a coach and won't forget it."
 
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Carlos Estrada Sanchez is an International Business major who has played in 57 singles matches and 56 doubles matches over the course of his career, and says the Raiders winning their first match of the season his freshman year against South Dakota State and his close, three-set win that clinched the match was one of his favorite memories at Wright State.
 
"The nerves, the fight, your teammates cheering from the side and rushing to you with outstretched arms after winning the match - that's what college tennis is about," Estrada Sanchez said.
 
"Carlos was probably our most improved player as senior. That alone speaks volumes. I think my favorite moment was him getting a win over Dayton in doubles to help clinch," Roeser said. "He was playing very tough opponents and had a lot of pressure. Carlos was part of a great senior class and was a great leader."
 
A native of Chandigarh, India, Param Pun is a Sports Science major who has played in 76 singles matches and 76 doubles matches over the course of his career, and says he will look back on all the places he's traveled with teammates as some of his favorite memories at Wright State.
 
"Having the opportunity to play for Wright State and being a student-athlete itself is an amazing thing. But something that I will look back to after graduating would by the times I traveled with my teammates and played in amazing tennis facilities around the country with some extremely good competition. Especially the one at Michigan State, where I got my first win against a Big 10 opponent," Pun said.
 
"Param is one of the greatest fighters I have had the opportunity to watch and coach. So many great moments but maybe his recent win against Xavier explains himself best," Roeser said. "He was being outplayed and down match point, he completely guessed to defend an overhead shot to win the point and eventually match. This explains Param best, as he finds ways to win better than anyone I've ever coached."