Payman becomes Wheaton's first All-America tennis player

May 19, 2007

NORTON, MA- Senior Payum Payman (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington) became the first Wheaton College tennis player, from either the men's or women's programs, to draw Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-America honors by virtue of winning his first-round match at the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday at Washington University in St. Louis.

Payman's victory was also the first ever for a Lyon in NCAA Championship play, as three women had previously competed before Payman became the first male to participate on the national stage in the men's program's 18-year history. After picking up a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win in the first round, Payman fell in the second round to the fifth-ranked player in the nation, 6-2, 7-5.

A team captain each of the past two seasons, Payman entered the national tournament ranked seventh in the Northeast by the ITA and ended up as one of the top 16 players in the country by advancing to the second round. Payman finished 20-6 this season while extending his winning streak to 12 matches thanks to his first-round victory. As the seventh seed among eight players out of the Northeast, Payman was one of only four to make it as far as the second round.

Payman completed his college career with a 120-51 record between singles and doubles, including 66-23 in singles action. Among his highlights this season was twice defeating the nation's 12th-ranked player from New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) power Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

A seven-time all-conference honoree, Payman was named NEWMAC Player of the Year this spring after earning league rookie-of-the-year laurels in 2004. He also received Wheaton's Senior Athletic Award, an honor annually bestowed upon a male and female member of the graduating class who has made a significant contribution to the success of Wheaton athletics.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 5/19/07.
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