Six Titans Earn ITA Scholar-Athlete Honors, Men’s Tennis Notches All-Academic Team Award

Titans one of five CCIW institutions to earn team award

7/24/2024 12:13:00 PM

ITA Release

TEMPE, Ariz. - Six members of the Illinois Wesleyan University men's tennis team earned Scholar-Athlete honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, announced by the organization Wednesday, July 24. As a squad, the Titans earned the All-Academic Team accolade.

Seniors Joshua Cortez (Chicago, Ill.-Notre Dame College Prep) and Ryan McCoy (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Rolling Meadows), junior Zeke Cross (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield), sophomore Griffin Hammond (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora Township), and freshmen Thad Dillow (Effingham, Ill.-Effingham) and Chase Tomecki (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) represented the Green and White, earning scholar-athlete honors.

In order to earn the Scholar-Athlete Award, one must have a GPA of at least 3.5 for the current academic year. For a team to earn All-Academic status, the program must have a team GPA of at least 3.2.

Cortez, an english and psychology double major, earns the honor for the fourth straight season to cap off his career for the Green and White, posting a 3.86 GPA in his final year. He earned Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honors for the third straight year, and was named to the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society following the 2022-23 season. For the 2023-24 campaign, Cortez appeared in one dual match and one tournament for Illinois Wesleyan. The Chicago, Ill. native posted a 2-2 overall record in singles action for the season.

A history major, McCoy received his first academic award after posting a 3.82 GPA for the season. Appearing in 19 dual matches for the Green and White, McCoy posted an overall record of 5-12 in singles play, primarily filling the No. 3 singles slot. In doubles action, McCoy was part of the No. 1 doubles pair for the majority of the season, accumulating an overall paired record of 8-11.

Double majoring in accounting and mathematics, Cross collects his second scholar-athlete honor, earning it for the second straight season after posting a 3.75 GPA for the year. He also picked up his second straight College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and Academic All-CCIW accolades during the 2023-24 campaign. Cross appeared in 19 dual matches and one tournament during the season, posting a 7-9 record in singles play and 6-12 record in doubles action. Cross was the primary No. 5 singles player and part of the No. 2 doubles pair for the Titans.

Hammond, an environmental studies major, recorded a 3.81 GPA for the 2023-24 season to collect his second straight scholar-athlete honor. Hammond also net his first CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-CCIW distinctions after a solid sophomore year. Playing primarily at No. 6 singles, Hammond posted an overall individual record of 7-10. One half of the typical No. 3 doubles duo, the Metamora, Ill., native finished paired play with an overall record of 8-11.

Dillow picks up his first academic accolade after posting a 3.65 GPA as a finance major. Appearing in 19 matches and one tournament during his freshman season, Dillow made an immediate impact for the Green and White. Primarily playing in the No. 4 singles slot, Dillow recorded an overall record of 10-11 in individual action. Playing primarily alongside Hammond at No. 3 doubles, Dillow posted an overall record of 8-11 in doubles play.

Posting a perfect 4.0 GPA as a biology major, Tomecki also garnered his first academic award following his freshman season. IWU's CCIW RESPECT Award recipient, Tomecki appeared in two dual matches and one tournament for the Green and White. The Downers Grove, Ill., native finished singles action with an overall record of 2-2.

The Titans were one of 129 programs to earn the All-Academic Team Award, and one of five CCIW institutions. Augustana College, Carthage College, Millikin University, and Wheaton College also earned the award. IWU made up six of the 45 players in the CCIW to receive Scholar-Athlete status.

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