When Chetanna “Chenny” Amadike steps onto the court at the no. 1 singles position, he sets the tone for the entire Idaho lineup.
The senior captain from Calgary, Canada, has been one of the most complete players in the Big Sky this season, and over the past month, he has elevated his play to another level. Through the early portion of the spring, Amadike has posted a 10-5 singles record while partnering with Gabriel Moroder to a 9-4 mark in doubles, consistently delivering points at the top of the lineup.
His impact was first felt in February, when Amadike earned Big Sky Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honors after going a perfect 4-0 across singles and doubles in dual matches against UTRGV and UC San Diego. He followed that performance by winning the award again the very next week, becoming just the second player in program history to win the honor multiple times in a single season.
That second honor came after one of the most important wins of Idaho’s season. Facing then-no. 56 Gonzaga, Amadike secured a straight-set victory at the nNo. 1 singles spot, extending his singles winning streak to five matches. Earlier in the day, he and Moroder added a doubles win, marking their fifth straight together. The Vandals went on to defeat Gonzaga 4-3, with Amadike clinching the decisive match.
This past weekend provided another opportunity for Amadike to come up big for the Vandals. In Idaho’s Big Sky opener against Idaho State, Amadike faced Valentino De Pellegrin, a two-time First Team All-Big Sky selection who had beaten him the previous season. This time, Amadike flipped the result, earning a straight-set win, 6-4, 7-5, to help lead Idaho to a 5-2 victory.
He followed that performance with another high-level win the next day against Sacramento State’s Martin Duris, taking the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 as the Vandals rolled to a 7-0 victory. Across the weekend, Amadike once again went 4-0 in singles and doubles, helping Idaho open conference play 2-0 and move into a tie for first place in the Big Sky.
That performance earned Amadike his third Big Sky Player of the Week honor this season, giving him the second-most in a single season in program history. He now trails only former Vandal Francisco Bascon, who recorded four in 2021.
For a team that entered conference play with a lot to prove, Amadike has been the steady force at the top. As Idaho continues its push through Big Sky play, its senior captain is playing the best tennis of his career.