DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Men's Tennis has announced the additions of Santiago Padilla and Mihnea Maftei to the Hatters' roster for Fall 2025 as Head Coach Christophe Noblet continues to strengthen the program.
Santiago Padilla Cote
A blue-chip recruit from Plantation, Fla., Padilla has established himself as one of the top junior players in the world. A 2024 graduate of Xceed Preparatory Academy, Padilla spent the 2024-25 season competing at the University of Arizona, where he gained invaluable experience with one of the nation's top programs, ranked No. 6 in the country.
Padilla's career highlights include reaching a career-high ITF junior ranking of 175 in 2023. He has traveled the world, competing on all surfaces, and made a memorable run at the 2023 Orange Bowl, where he defeated two top-40 ITF players en route to the final round of qualifying. Among his most notable achievements as a junior player, Padilla won the J60 in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, and made the final of the J100 in Cali, Colombia. Additionally, he claimed six ITF doubles titles with six different partners, showcasing his adaptability and skill.
Padilla also comes to Stetson with a high 12.30 UTR, reflecting his ability to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
"The coaching staff at Stetson was the biggest factor in my decision," Padilla said. "I love what this team stands for, and I knew I could call DeLand, Florida, home."
Head Coach Christophe Noblet expressed his excitement about Padilla's potential impact:
"Santiago is a high-profile recruit, having completed a stellar junior career and a freshman season at Arizona. Our perfect blend of high-level athletics and academics was very appealing to him, as well as our commitment to team culture. I am confident he will blossom while wearing the green and white."
Mihnea Maftei
Hailing from Galați, Romania, Mihnea Maftei joins the Hatters as one of the top young players in his country. Maftei's career achievements include a career-high ATP Singles ranking of 1756 and a Doubles ranking of 1875. Nationally, he was ranked No. 2 in Romania at age 14 and is currently ranked No. 23 among Romanian seniors.
A three-time national champion, Maftei captured one title in doubles and two in club competition. His choice to attend Stetson was driven by the university's combination of athletic and academic excellence.
"Stetson University is a great choice because it offers a competitive Division I tennis program with excellent coaching and facilities, small classes for personalized academics, and strong support for balancing sports and studies," Maftei said. "I feel a strong connection with the coach, who has been incredibly supportive and shares my vision for excelling both on the tennis court and in the classroom."
Coach Noblet praised Maftei's decision to join the Hatters:
"Mihnea is a highly touted junior out of Romania and had some serious offers on the table before choosing Stetson. He will benefit greatly from our training environment and the opportunities we have to offer. I was very impressed by his character throughout the process, and I know he already embraces our core values wholeheartedly."
With the addition of Padilla and Maftei, Stetson Men's Tennis continues to elevate its program to new heights. For now, the Hatters have their eyes set on the conference title this Spring as they prepare for Kennesaw State on Friday atthe Mandy Stoll Tennis Center at 2:00 PM.
