Wayne State proudly boasts a wealth of international students, and it's no surprise that they are finding success in the world of athletics as well as academics.

Taylor Vane, England

The run of team captain Taylor Vane of Southampton, England, concluded with him receiving the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the NCAA Division II Midwest Region. The award, named for the tennis legend, indicates success on and off the court.

Vane led his team to a regular season title, a campaign buoyed by his undefeated run in men's No. 1 doubles. He made the All-GLIAC Second Team all four years of his WSU tennis career.

His leading and winning ways continued off the court as a member of the Student Leadership Council; a three-time Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Award winner; and eight semesters on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (including two 4.0 semesters).

Dasha Kuznetsova, Russia

As her WSU tennis tenure draws to a close, Russia native Dasha Kuznetsova can look back knowing she has done nothing but gotten better.

Kuznetsova finished her freshman year with a 14-14 record, and proceeded to earn accolades with each ensuing year. Her efforts were recognized this year by being named Most Improved Senior and making her first All-GLIAC First Team, having received Second Team selections in her sophomore and junior seasons.

The team co-captain also was co-secretary of the WSU Student Athlete Advisory Committee. The Public Relations major and aspiring sports journalist has been named to both the Athletic Director and Coach's Honor Roll three times.

Niklas Karcz, Germany

While Vane and Kuznetsova are wrapping up their time at Wayne State, Niklas Karcz is just getting started. The All-GLIAC sophomore from Bottrop, Germany, went undefeated in GLIAC No. 1 singles competition, helping Wayne State clinch the regular season title and the GLIAC tournament.

Karcz is a fixture on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, including a 4.0 in Fall 2017, and is a member of the WSU Student Leadership Council. Other accolades include two GLIAC Player of the Week selections, and he is WSU's first tennis player to be named GLIAC Player of the Year, an award dating back to 1983.

Karcz has already done quite a bit in his two years with Warrior tennis, but his selection as the International Tennis Association's Player to Watch shows that he's expected to do even more in the future.

By Jacob Stocking, OIP communications associate

The Office of International Programs leads Wayne State's global engagement by creating opportunities that foster international education and research, facilitate the exchange of individuals and ideas that promote global competencies and citizenship, and provide resources that support the expansion of the university's global agenda. Follow us @WayneOIP.