MONMOUTH, Ill. – Four Monmouth College tennis student-athletes – three men and one woman – have been honored nationally for academic excellence by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
Alex Martin (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) and brothers Joseph Shie and Andrew Shie (Davenport, Iowa/Central) were honored from the men’s team while Natalie Curtis (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) received the women’s award as ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athletes.
The ITA awards scholar-athlete status to players who have earned varsity letters and meet the qualifying criteria: a minimum 3.5 GPA for the year on a 4.0 scale and have attended their school for at least two semesters.
Martin, who recently earned his first all-academic award from the Midwest Conference, also earned the ITA honor for the first time. A business major and the son of Scott and Linda Martin, he will enter his senior season with the Scots this fall after playing the majority of last year’s matches at No. 4 singles.
Andrew Shie also earned his first ITA and MWC awards this season. The business major played all but one match at No. 2 singles during his freshman campaign last season.
A biochemistry major, Joseph Shie played at No. 1 singles last season as a sophomore. He picked up his second straight ITA academic award. The Shies are sons of Thomas and Dianna Shie.
A two-time academic all-conference selection, Curtis earned her third straight ITA academic award. The daughter of Peter and Annette Curtis graduated in May with degrees in math and art major. She played all but one match at No. 5 singles in her final campaign.
Since the 2013-14 academic year, Monmouth has earned 29 ITA scholar-athlete awards.
