Willamette Men's Tennis Team Earns ITA All-Academic Honors

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Outstanding work in the classroom has resulted in the Willamette University men's tennis squad being recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as an All-Academic Team for the 2012-13 season. In addition, five tennis players from the Bearcat men's tennis team were selected as 2012-13 ITA Scholar-Athletes.

A total of 39 men's tennis teams in NCAA Division III received All-Academic honors by earning a team cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Individual Scholar-Athlete status was attained by 350 men's tennis players in Division III.

Players earning ITA Scholar-Athlete status were required to achieve at least a 3.5 grade point average (4.0 scale) during the academic year. They also had to be letterwinners on their respective teams and had to attend their current colleges or universities for at least one full academic year by the end of the season.

Willamette players named to the Scholar-Athlete list were Joshua Wong (Sr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS), Will Agnew-Svoboda (Jr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS), Devin Abney (So., Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS/Univ. of Redlands), Gunnar Lee (Fr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS), and Colin Yamaguchi (Fr., Damascus, OR/Clackamas HS).

Wong, who finished the season ranked #16 in the West Region, graduated this spring with a major in Biology. Agnew-Svoboda is double majoring in Biology and Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry. Abney, Lee and Yamaguchi have not yet declared their majors.

Bearcat Head Coach Rick Wood was in his first season as Willamette's head coach in 2012-13. Willamette played a difficult schedule and ended the season ranked #18 in the West Region with a 7-10 record, including 5-7 in the Northwest Conference. Wong was the team's only senior. The team also included two juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen.

"I am very proud to coach a team that exemplifies being student-athletes," Wood said. "My expectation and one goal for the entire team is that everyone strives to give their best on and off the court at all times. I don't ask for more. Success can come easily if you focus on that goal.

"Here, at Willamette, school comes first," Wood added. "The team and individual honors for this year show the time and hard work from my players. Being recognized nationally is a great accomplishment."