FRISCO, Texas – Lamar University's Rintaro Shukuda has been named 2026 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year announced league officials Friday morning. Shukuda highlights a postseason squad that consists of three Cardinals who secured four spots on the postseason squad.
 
Shukuda, who also received second-team All-SLC honors at the No. 3 singles position, was joined on the second team by classmate Vicente Monge (No. 5 singles) and sophomore Louis Drapeau (No. 6 singles).
 
Shukuda becomes the fourth Cardinal in program history to be named SLC Freshman of the Year, the third rookie of the year under head coach Scott Shankles and the second in the past three seasons (joining current teammate, and now junior Leon Nickel).
 
Shukuda sent a message to the entire league in his opening spring match as a collegiate athlete. The Cardinals squared off against seventh-ranked Mississippi State in the season opener and Shukuda faced the Bulldogs' Br Hernandez Cortes who was ranked 34^th nationally. After dropping the first set, 6-1, Shukuda fought back to force a third set ultimately upsetting Cortes, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
 
By seasons end, Shukuda finished second on the team with 10 singles wins across courts 1-3, including a 7-4 mark at No. 3 singles. He posted a 3-2 (.600) record in conference matches. A native Sapporo Hakkaido, Japan, Shukuda also finished among the team leaders with 10 doubles wins between courts 2-3.
 
Another top-flight freshman for the Red and White, Monge impressed during his rookie season. Leading the team with a total of 12 singles wins across courts 4-6 and posting a 5-2 record at No. 5 singles, Monge provided LU with a strong punch at the bottom of the singles ladder. Originally from Lima, Peru, Monge closed the year strong winning seven of his final 10 matches. He also added seven wins across all three doubles courts.
 
Drapeau is making his second consecutive appearance on the all-conference team, repeating his second-team honor at No. 6 singles from last year. Originally from Tours, France, Drapeau posted a 9-7 overall record across courts 4-6 and went undefeated at line 6 singles. He also ended the year 3-2 (.600) in SLC matches.
 
The fourth-seeded Cardinals will begin play in the conference championships Monday when they host top-seeded UIW at 10 a.m. from the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Complex (on College Street). Admission to the Southland tournament is free.