Wessels and Ferreira earn NAIA All-American Honors

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland men's tennis standouts Daniel Wessels and Vitor Ferreira have been recognized among the nation's elite as the duo earned NAIA All-American honors following a strong 2024-25 season. Wessels was named to the Second Team, while Ferreira received Third Team honors, the NAIA announced on Friday.

Both student-athletes played crucial roles in leading the Phoenix to a 15-10 overall record and a berth in the NAIA National Championship Round of 16, marking the fourth consecutive national tournament appearance for the program.

Wessels, a senior from Heidelberg, South Africa, caps off a storied career with his first NAIA All-American honor. The recognition adds to an already decorated resume that includes three All-Conference First Team selections, a Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year award, and this year's prestigious Lindsey Donnell Award—an honor given to a student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in both academics and athletics.

This season, Wessels posted a 13-8 singles record and went 18-3 in doubles action. He was ranked at No. 17 in the NAIA at the end of the season. His partnership with Paul-Daniel Meyer proved to be one of the most effective in the conference, finishing 8-2 at the No. 3 doubles spot and earning a No. 35 national ranking in the ITA doubles standings.

Off the court, Wessels has been just as impactful. He is a three-time member of the Mid-South Conference Champions of Character Team, a four-time ITA Community Service Award winner, and a four-time ITA Scholar-Athlete.

Ferreira, a sophomore from Brazil, also garnered national recognition with a Third Team All-American nod after a breakout season in the top of the Phoenix lineup. Ferreira went 9-13 in singles action while holding a 5-1 record in Mid-South Conference play. He spent the majority of the season competing at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, finishing the year as the second highest-ranked Phoenix player at No. 40 in the final ITA singles rankings.

In doubles play, Ferreira compiled a 14-9 record and was a steady presence for the Phoenix throughout the spring. He also earned Mid-South Conference Player of the Week honors during the regular season and was named First Team All-Conference after earning Second Team recognition as a freshman.

The All-American accolades mark the 12th and 13th All-American honors for the men's tennis program and the first since the 2018-19 season.

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Players Mentioned

Vitor Ferreira: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Paul-Daniel Meyer: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Daniel Wessels: 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Vitor Ferreira
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Paul-Daniel Meyer
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Daniel Wessels
: 6' 2"; Senior