Tuskegee Women’s Tennis Team named April’s ITA Sportmanship Award Winner
The Tuskegee women’s tennis teams has been honored as April’s recipients of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Team Sportsmanship Award, the ITA announced today.
The ITA National Team Sportsmanship Award is a monthly award that goes to one men’s and one women’s team that has exemplified outstanding sportsmanship, character and ethical conduct in the true spirit of competition and collegiate tennis. The winners are selected by the ITA Ethics and Infractions Committee from nominations received from all ITA member institutions (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community Colleges). This monthly award began in 2003.
Tuskegee is coached by Ricardo Reed who led TU to a 22-5 record this season, an SIAC regular season and tournament championship, and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Regional Championship.
In addition to the obvious reasons, sportsmanship and fair play are considered important in college tennis due to the fact that players make their own line calls during a match.
Tuskegee University:
The Nominating Coach: “This team dealt with three tough matches in one weekend, including severe weather and changing courts. In all, they did it with smiles on their face and acted like women once they got on the court. I am very proud of them for what they faced this weekend, and that they came out undefeated and did it with such grace and class.”
Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, Tuskegee University President, said, “In addition to the many academic honors our student athletes receive, I am honored to see them rewarded for exceptional integrity. This is a brilliant example of how Tuskegee student athletes excel on and off the field.”
Tuskegee will be in action this weekend at the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament on the campus of Valdosta State University. They will face North Alabama.