MONMOUTH, IL – Six women and four men helped the Monmouth College tennis program account for a dozen national academic awards from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for the 2019-20 season.
The men’s and women’s teams picked up the ITA’s All-Academic team honors after each surpassed the cumulative team grade point average requirement of 3.20. It was the women’s fourth team honor for academic excellence since the 2015-16 season and the men’s third since the 2016-17 campaign. It marks the third time in program history the men and women have earned the team honor in the same academic year.
Senior Rachael Leifheit (DeKalb, IL/Glenbard East), juniors Alison Bowman (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg) and Emma Johanns (Burlington, IA) and freshmen Emily Henson (Geneseo, IL/Geneseo), Emily Laughlin (Milan, IL/Rock Island) and Ditza Montesinos (Villa Park, IL/Willowbrook) were joined as ITA Scholar-Athletes by senior Alex Martin (Glenview, IL/Glenbrook South), junior Joseph Shie (Davenport, IA/Central), sophomore Andrew Shie (Davenport, IA/Central) and freshman Omar Godinez (Tlaquepaque, Mexico).
The ITA awards scholar-athlete status to players who have earned varsity letters and meet the qualifying criteria of a minimum 3.5 GPA for the year on a 4.0 scale and have attended their school for at least two semesters.
Leifheit, who earned her first ITA honor, graduated in May with a degree in kinesiology. Playing primarily at No. 3 singles last season, Leifheit posted a 7-5 record in her final campaign and earned her first academic all-conference award from the Midwest Conference. She is the daughter of Lori Leifheit.
Bowman, another first-time ITA honoree, is a biopsychology major. Playing at No. 2 doubles, she rolled to an 8-2 record while also earning her first academic all-conference award from the MWC. She is the daughter of David and Amy Bowman.
Johanns, who earned her second academic award from the ITA, held down the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles. A neuroscience and biology major, she is the daughter of Thomas and Andrea Johanns.
Henson majors in business and was also named academic all-conference. She took the court at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles and is the daughter of Brian and Kathrynne Henson.
Laughlin is majoring in educational studies and was named academic all-conference. She played the majority of the season at No. 4 singles, where she posted a 6-4 record. She is the daughter of Mike and Lisa Laughlin.
A business major who also earned academic all-conference status, Montesinos saw action at No. 6 singles. She is the daughter of Victo
