Cantos Siemers Joins Buckeye Staff as Assistant Coach
7/10/2024 11:45:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Ohio State all-time wins leader completed collegiate career this spring
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Irina Cantos Siemers, who wrapped up a five-year career with the Ohio State women's tennis team in the spring, has been named an assistant coach for the squad, head coach Melissa Schaub announced.
"I am so excited for Irina to join our staff and continue her time at Ohio State," Schaub said. "No one knows our program and expectations better. She had such an impact as a player and a leader and I know she will do the same as a coach."
The Buckeyes' first three-time singles All-American and first two-time CSC Academic All-American, Cantos Siemers ended her career as the program's all-time leader in singles (127) and combined singles/doubles wins (224). A four-time unanimous All-Big Ten honoree, she was the 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year, a four-time NCAA singles qualifier and a two-time NCAA doubles qualifier. Cantos Siemers was in the national singles rankings throughout the last four years, reaching as high as No. 4, and was in the doubles rankings the last three years, with a high of eighth. She ended her graduate season No. 13 in singles and No. 25 in doubles (with Luciana Perry). The Buckeyes earned an NCAA Tournament berth as a Top 16 seed each season it was held during Cantos Siemers' career.
"Ohio State has been my home for the last five years and there is no better place for me to start my professional career than here," Cantos Siemers said. "Being able to give back and help out in any way I can to a program that has given me so much just feels like the right step at this time. I am so grateful to Melissa [Schaub], Adam [Cohen, associate head coach] and all of the Ohio State staff for their trust and belief in me."
Cantos Siemers, from Brussels, Belgium, earned her bachelor's degree in communications in Autumn 2022 and her master's degree in kinesiology in Spring 2024. She received Academic All-Big Ten accolades four times and was a five-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. She earned B1G Distinguished Scholar honors in 2021, '23 and '24 and will earn her fifth ITA Scholar-Athlete award this year. A Big Ten Medal of Honor finalist, she was also the recipient of the 2024 ITA Midwest Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship.
"I am so excited for Irina to join our staff and continue her time at Ohio State," Schaub said. "No one knows our program and expectations better. She had such an impact as a player and a leader and I know she will do the same as a coach."
The Buckeyes' first three-time singles All-American and first two-time CSC Academic All-American, Cantos Siemers ended her career as the program's all-time leader in singles (127) and combined singles/doubles wins (224). A four-time unanimous All-Big Ten honoree, she was the 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year, a four-time NCAA singles qualifier and a two-time NCAA doubles qualifier. Cantos Siemers was in the national singles rankings throughout the last four years, reaching as high as No. 4, and was in the doubles rankings the last three years, with a high of eighth. She ended her graduate season No. 13 in singles and No. 25 in doubles (with Luciana Perry). The Buckeyes earned an NCAA Tournament berth as a Top 16 seed each season it was held during Cantos Siemers' career.
"Ohio State has been my home for the last five years and there is no better place for me to start my professional career than here," Cantos Siemers said. "Being able to give back and help out in any way I can to a program that has given me so much just feels like the right step at this time. I am so grateful to Melissa [Schaub], Adam [Cohen, associate head coach] and all of the Ohio State staff for their trust and belief in me."
Cantos Siemers, from Brussels, Belgium, earned her bachelor's degree in communications in Autumn 2022 and her master's degree in kinesiology in Spring 2024. She received Academic All-Big Ten accolades four times and was a five-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. She earned B1G Distinguished Scholar honors in 2021, '23 and '24 and will earn her fifth ITA Scholar-Athlete award this year. A Big Ten Medal of Honor finalist, she was also the recipient of the 2024 ITA Midwest Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship.
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