COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The 2009 Saint John’s University tennis team and five of its members earned 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) academic honors Tuesday, Aug. 11. Senior Mark Steelman (St. Paul, Minn./Holy Angels), juniors Dutch Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd), Brian Holmgren (Litchfield, Minn.) and Luke Odegaard (Forest Lake, Minn.), and freshman Matt Peckskamp (Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen) were named ITA All-Academic Scholars.
The Johnnies, who compiled a 3.33 team grade-point average in 2009, ended the season with a 9-9 overall record and a 5-4 record in the MIAC. SJU head coach Jack Bowe ended his 12th season with a 121-116 career dual record at SJU.
SJU was one of 33 Division III schools to receive the honor in men’s tennis, along with three other Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference members (Carleton, St. Olaf and St. Thomas). The Johnnies led all other conference institutions with five individuals earning All-Academic Scholar honors, followed by Carleton (3), St. Thomas (3), St Olaf (2) and Hamline (1).
The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.0 scale). All eligible student-athletes whose names appear on the NCAA eligibility form and have competed in one or more varsity matches must average into the GPA for the current academic year (including fall 2008 and spring 2009).
In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status, a player must meet the following criteria: be a varsity letter winner, have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale) for the current academic year, and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters (including freshman through senior year).
2009 ITA All-Academic Teams and Scholar-Athletes