Carol Lee gets 2nd All-American nod

Carol Lee, second from right, and Georgia Tech teammate Kate Sharabura, second from left, pose with the Yellow Jackets women’s tennis team head coach Rodney Harmon, right, and assistant coach Alexis Casati.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The CNMI’s Carol Lee got her second All-American selection last week after the Intercollegiate Tennis Association officially announced the 2023 All-American honorees. 

Lee and Georgia Tech teammate Kate Sharabura got All-American honors as a women’s doubles pair last year.

“Earning the All American nod was one of the goals I wanted to accomplish this year so it feels good that I have earned it and this motivates me to keep pushing forward toward my other goals. I’m hoping that this nod would help other CNMI tennis players to have strong hope and believe in accomplishing any sort of personal goals they have,” Lee told Saipan Tribune.

The Saipan Community School alumnus thanked her coaches, Georgia Tech teammates, and family for helping her attain this latest feat.

“I would like to mention my coaches, Rodney [Harmon] and Alexis [Casati], my team, my family, my dad, and my supporters from Saipan who have helped me along my journey,” said the daughter of Lee Dong Min and Lee Eunkyoung.

Lee also gave special mention to ITF Development for making her the tennis player she is now.

As for her message to CNMI youth who aim to achieve success in sports, “I would say to keep working hard and to go after the opportunities they get and support one another,” she said.

Harmon, for his part, said he’s really happy for Lee getting a second consecutive All-American nod.

The CNMI’s pride Carol Lee, second from right, poses with, from left, his father Dong Min, sister Anne, brother Sean, and mother Eunkyoung.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“Her hard work and discipline are really paying off. I am impressed this year with Carol’s ability to play offense at the proper times and her ability to finish points at the net,” he said.

According to Georgia Tech’s sports website, the All-American award is a prestigious title given to student-athletes that earn a  Top 16 seed in the NCAA Singles Championship, advance to the round of 16 in the NCAA Singles Championship or finish in the top 20 of the ITA Singles Rankings.

Lee led Georgia Tech from the No. 1 singles position all season, compiling a 29-12 overall singles record, and went 17-7 in dual singles matches from the top position. The Yellow Jacket earned an individual bid to the NCAA Singles Championship and earned a Top 16 seeding, clinching All-America status.

Making her second appearance in the NCAA Singles Championships, Lee reached the quarterfinals, marking the deepest run of her career. A mainstay in the national singles rankings, Lee climbed as high as No. 7 nationally on March 21 and finished the season ranked No. 14.

Lee also became the first Yellow Jacket to earn singles All-America honors since Victoria Flores and Kenya Jones earned the distinction in 2021. She is also one of eight representatives of the Atlantic Coast Conference on the ITA All-American singles list.