Three Bearcat Men's Tennis Players are Honored by ITA for Academic Success
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Three Willamette University men's tennis players have been named ITA Scholar-Athletes by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for the 2016-17 season. Receiving the honor for Willamette were Colin Fisher (Fr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School), Gunnar Lee (Sr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph School), and Derek Lund (Jr., Helena, MT/Capital HS).
A total of 3,908 Scholar-Athletes were selected nationwide from women's tennis and men's tennis teams in all three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and junior colleges.
Scholar-Athlete status was achieved if a player was a varsity letter winner with a grade point average of at least 3.50 (4.0 scale) during the 2016-17 academic year. Athletes had to attend their current college or university for a least two semesters.
Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III, and the Bearcats compete in the Northwest Conference. A total of 645 men's tennis players in Division III received Scholar-Athlete status. In the NWC, a group of 32 athletes from seven of the nine men's teams were honored.
Lee completed his second undergraduate major at Willamette this spring and graduated in May. Fisher will be a sophomore during the 2017-18 academic year, while Lund will be a senior.
ITA Scholar-Athlete Award
Colin Fisher (Fr.) competed in all 14 matches this season. He was one of five Bearcats to participate in every match. In singles action, He played mostly #5 singles (6 matches) and #6 singles (6 matches). In addition, he played in all 14 matches at #2 doubles. Fisher has not declared a major.
Gunnar Lee (Sr.) earned ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition for the fourth time in his career. He also was chosen for the honor in 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15. He sat out the 2015-16 season while completing the first of his two majors. This year, he played in every match, mostly at the #1 position in singles (11 matches). He competed at #1 doubles in all 14 matches.
In his career, Lee saw action in 53 singles matches, including every dual match over his final three seasons (spring 2014, 2015 and 2017). He played in doubles in 61 dual matches, including every match in 2015 and 2017. He competed in 21 matches at #1 singles and in 35 matches at #1 doubles. Lee graduated with majors in Chemistry (Biochemistry track) and Japanese Studies.
Derek Lund (Jr.) was involved in all 14 of Willamette's dual matches this past season. He played mostly at the #5 position in singles (8 matches). He played at the #3 position in doubles during every match.
In three seasons with the Bearcats, Lund has competed in 33 singles matches and 39 doubles matches. He is majoring in Environmental Science.