Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU: 3-year returning letterman....2017 Pre-Season All-Conference squad....4-time All-PBC and 2-time All-America selection....Only the 11th PBC men's performer to earn All-Conference honors all four years.... 76% career winning percentage in singles play (42-13 record)....11th in Patriot team history for career singles wins and 13th in doubles victories....2016 ITA All-American for doubles play....ITA National Player to Watch for 2017....ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch for 2017....2016 All-Peach Belt Conference Team: first-team for singles play and second-team for doubles play....2016 ITA final rankings for NCAA II: 25th in singles and 8th in doubles....Team MVP 2016, 2015, and 2014.....2015 ITA All-American for singles play (11th All-American in history of the program)....First-team All-Conference honors for 2015 singles play....Ranked #14 in final 2015 ITA national singles rankings (#5 in Southeast regional rankings)....Mainly played #1 singles and #1 doubles in 2015....15-3 singles mark (7-3 in conference play).....3 singles wins over nationally ranked opponents....Won 30 of 40 sets....2015 Pre-Season All-PBC squad...Reached quarterfinals of the 2014 (fall) Southeast Regional Small College ITA/USTA championships....2014 ITA Rookie of the Year for the Southeast Region….2014 PBC Freshman of the Year…Second-team All-Conference 2014…13-2 singles mark (9-1 in PBC play)…Finished 2014 ranked 23rd nationally in singles…PBC Player of the Week twice (Feb. 10, 2015 and Feb. 18, 2014)....Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll 2014....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2013 (fall), 2014 (spring).....Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17.

PERSONAL:  Born Richard Solomon Ashforth in Durban, South Africa....A product of Michaelhouse, where he played under the direction of coach Reenen De Vries....Played South African Schools Tennis....Also played South African U18 Field Hockey....Earned Sportsman of the Year honors....Nickname is Rich.

PERSONAL FAVORITES:  As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up:  Movie star....Favorite Superhero when growing up: Patrick Hensley....Favorite Athlete:  Jannik Roettlingsburger....Favorite Sports Team: Manchester United....Favorite Movie: The Sting....Favorite TV Shows: Modern Family and Suits....Favorite Food: Tacos....Favorite Vacation Spot: Thailand....Celebrity Crush: Jennifer Aniston....Favorite Sport Other than Your Own: Soccer and Chess....Favorite Website (outside social media): supersport.com ....Favorite Social Media Site: Instagram....Instagram Handle: ashforth10 ....Your Motivation Music: Rap....Favorite Things About FMU: Patriots Place and Founders Hall....Favorite Off-Field Activity: Table tennis and FIFA11....Goals for Upcoming Season: Finish All-American and inspire to become Patrick Hensley....Hobbies: Table tennis, pool, FIFA, surfing, and traveling....Brush With Greatness: Was roommates with Patrick Hensley and Jannik Roetllingsburger.