For the second straight year, ETSU’s men’s tennis team claimed a spot on the All-Academic Team. Alongside this honor, four Bucs were named Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar Athletes.
“It is a great to know that these students have earned this honor,” said head coach Martin Stiegwardt.
ITA Scholar Athlete recognition is earned by student-athletes in tennis who obtain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
“The tennis team has had great success in the past few years with managing athletics and academics,” Stiegwardt said.
The award not only impacts the recipient — it also pushes the newest recruits to achieve this goal.
“It is great to work with good students and athletes, along with a great administration,” Stiegwardt continued.
Dealing with both academics and athletics can take a great deal of time and dedication.
“It takes a lot of good planning, making sure you have enough time in the day,” said Stiegwardt.
Despite ETSU postponing fall athletics, there is still a possibility for tennis matches to take place later in the season. With the U.S. Open taking place, there may be a chance for the Bucs to play in a few tournaments in October and November.
“There are many tournaments open, and we plan on trying to compete in some,” Stiegwardt said.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in March, the team has not had much playing time. The last match-up they played was a victory over Clemson 4-1 on March 7.
The Bucs start practicing this week with conditioning. In hopes of playing in the fall, the team looks to prepare themselves for competition.
With tennis having a chance to return in the late fall for tournament play, they are looking to take advantage of some training time.
“I still enjoy coaching this team,” said Stiegwardt. “This is still a great area for growth.”
