Irvine Valley sophomore men's tennis player Devon Kashishian is headed to NAIA power Westcliff University next season.
Kashishian helped Irvine Valley to a co-championship in the Orange Empire Conference this past spring.
The sophomore played in the No. 1 doubles position and at second singles all year.
The Lasers ended with a record of 8-2 overall and 7-1 in conference.
Kashishian had a record of 5-3 in singles and 6-3 in doubles during the regular season.
He qualified through the OEC finals event in both singles and doubles for the California Community College Athletic Association state tournament.
At the state event, he reached the semifinals with sophomore teammate Kiichi Ishida.
Kashishian was then named Irvine Valley's male Character of Champion award winner. He was also picked as first team all-OEC in both singles and doubles.
"I am truly honored and excited to represent Irvine Valley College athletics," Kashishian said after hearing about the award. "You have allowed me to live out a dream that I never thought was possible for me again."
Kashishian formerly played Division I tennis at Eastern Washington University from 2016-2018.
Kashishian admitted that he struggled at the school with addiction before turning his life around.
"Being let go of that team has come to be one of the more important days in my life," he said recently. "I was let go for the opposite reason of the award that I have been nominated for. Which is why this means so much to me, I have tears of joy as I am proud of the man that this school and those around me have allowed me to become."
Kashishian was voted to be a team captain this past year at IVC because of his work ethic and leadership.
"No one worked harder or brought more energy and effort to the court and to our team," IVC coach Ross Duncan said. "The guys respect him immensely, as he is a man of his word and leads by example.
"He is not afraid to share his past and who he was, as well as his work toward the man he wants to become. He is a shining example of what leadership, personal growth and humility looks like."
Westcliff had its best season in program history this spring.
The squad won a Golden State Athletic Conference title and reached the NAIA National Championships in Mobile, Ala. in May.
The Warriors were a top 10 team in the country and won their first two matches in the NAIA event before falling.
