One of only four student-athletes in Washington College history who played for two NCAA Division III National Championship teams, Michael Kember enjoyed a remarkable tennis career at Washington College.
As a freshman, Michael played for the College’s first-ever NCAA Championship team as the Shoremen went 19-2 and claimed the NCAA Division III National Championship. He was named to the All-Centennial Conference second team for singles. The following season, the Shoremen finished as national runners-up and Michael again earned All-Centennial second-team honors in singles. He also competed in the NCAA Division III Doubles Championship Tournament that spring.
Michael moved up in the Shoremen’s line-up his final two seasons and brought in even more individual accolades. As a junior, he was named the Centennial Conference Player of the Year, winning the Centennial Conference Singles Championship and earning All-Centennial first-team honors in singles. He won the Rolex Regional Doubles Championship in the fall, securing a spot as an All-American in doubles and again played in the NCAA Division III Doubles Championship Tournament in the spring.
Michael’s senior season began with a second consecutive Rolex Regional Doubles Championship, securing him All-American honors in doubles for the second straight year. Playing with teammate Miro Beran, he went on to post a third-place finish in doubles at the Rolex National Championships. In the spring, during the Shoremen’s run to a 19-1 record and their second NCAA Division III National Championship, Michael repeated as Centennial Conference Singles Champion and landed on the All-Centennial first team for both singles and doubles. He was selected to play in the NCAA Division III Singles Championship for the first time and advanced to the quarterfinals to secure All-America honors in singles.
In his final two seasons alone, Michael won a combined 101 singles and doubles matches, going 50-7 in singles and 51-7 in doubles over those two years. With Michael on the team, the Shoremen won four Centennial Conference Championships, played in four NCAA Division III Tournaments, won two national titles, and posted a combined won-loss dual match record of 72-9.
Following his playing days at Washington College, Kember stayed on as a graduate assistant coach and assistant director of Schottland Tennis Center and the Johnson Lifetime Fitness Center while completing his Master’s degree. He has since enjoyed a long career as a tennis coach, instructor, professional, and director.
Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct Michael Kember into its Athletic Hall of Fame on this 12th day of October, 2013.
