SKILLMAN, N.J. --- Five members of the Moravian College men's and women's tennis teams have been named 2015 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athletes while the men's squad has earned All-Academic Team honors for the four straight year.
Senior Lewis Cooper, junior Matt Tuorto, sophomore Giovanni Lombardi and freshman David Wilson from the men's team and junior Courtnie Lambert from the women's squad were named ITA Scholar-Athletes.
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 4.00 scale). All eligible student-athletes whose names appear on the NCAA/NAIA eligibility form and have competed in one or more matches are averaged into the cumulative grade point average for the current year (including fall 2014 and spring 20115).
The Greyhounds are one of 41 NCAA Division III men's teams to win the ITA All-Academic Team award and one of three Landmark Conference men's squads honored.
For a student-athlete to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, they must maintain at least a 3.50 GPA, earn a varsity letter and be enrolled for at least two semesters. Over 2,500 student-athletes were honored with ITA Scholar-Athete status.
"Obviously I was extreme happy with our men's tennis season this year and the way it ended with the ECAC Championship," commented Director of Tennis Art Smith '68. "However, I am equally impressed with the hard work and dedication displayed in the classroom by Lewis, Matt, Giovanni and David. These four young men exemplify the true meaning of being a student Athlete. Congratulations to these four on being named as ITA Scholar Athletes.
"Courtnie did a tremendous job both on the tennis court and in the classroom this year," Smith continued. "As captain she provided outstanding leadership for our young team. She balanced a very demanding course load with playing and leading our women's tennis team. I congratulate her on once again on being named an ITA Scholar Athlete."
Cooper, who was named the Merr Trumbore Men's Tennis Award winner for the second straight year in 2014-15 as he shared the award with Tuorto, finished the spring with a 17-7 mark in singles action to finish his career with a 43-26 slate. Cooper, who was also selected as the 2015 Landmark Conference Men's Tennis Senior Scholar-Athlete, posted a 16-7 mark in doubles action with Lombardi as Cooper finished his career with a school record 45 wins in doubles action after helping the Greyhounds capture the 2015 ECAC Division III Outdoor Championship, the first postseason title in program history.
Tuorto made the 2015 Landmark All-Conference First Team in both singles and in doubles with junior John Wylie after the duo set a single season mark with a 17-7 slate in doubles action. Tuorto, who was on the Landmark All-Conference Second Team in doubles his first two seasons, served as a captain for a second straight year with Cooper, and Tuorto was 12-9 in singles action while playing in the top spot in the line-up.
Lombardi was 7-15 in singles action in addition to his doubles slate with Cooper while Wilson had a 3-0 single record and an 11-9 mark in doubles action in his debut season.
Lambert led the women's squad with an 11-8 mark in singles action including a 7-4 mark at fourth singles,, and she also posted a 12-7 slate in doubles action with a 10-5 mark in the third doubles slot.
To view the entire 2014-15 ITA All-Academic Teams and ITA Scholar-Athletes, visit http://www.itatennis.com/AwardsAndRankings/Academic-Awards.htm.