Feb. 28, 2003
Northwestern's men's tennis team has been honored as the first winner of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Team Sportsmanship Award, the ITA announced today.
The ITA National Team Sportsmanship Award is a new monthly award that goes to a team that has exemplified outstanding sportsmanship, character and ethical conduct in the true spirit of competition and college tennis. The winner is 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).
Northwestern is coached by Paul Torricelli, who is in his 20th season as Wildcat head coach. Northwestern is 7-2 this season.
"What a great honor for our players and the university," Torricelli says. "It's a real tribute to the kind of guys we have. Our three seniors, Jackie Jenkins, Josh Axler and Russell Bennett, are class acts and set the standard for the rest of the team.
"Good sportsmanship, in effect, is it's own reward and now there is an opportunity to honor teams on a regular basis. We're thrilled to be the first recipient and thank the ITA for acknowledging an aspect of our sport that is so important to all of us."
NU was nominated for the award by Arkansas head coach Robert Cox, whose Razorback team hosted the Wildcats on Jan. 26.
"Not only did Northwestern and their coaches play well and play hard, they played fair," Cox said. "Not once did they act in a negative manner. Our crowd was all over them and Northwestern just played solid tennis. Northwestern should be proud of their tennis program and tennis staff. I only hope that my Razorbacks act as well while on the road when faced with such a rowdy crowd."
More information on the award and Northwestern is available on the ITA web site, www.itatennis.com.
As the governing body of collegiate tennis the ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, which was founded in 1956 and is based in Skillman, N.J., administers numerous regional and national championships, the ITA Collegiate Summer Circuit, presented by the USTA, and the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings for men's and women's tennis at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior College levels. The ITA also has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership and sportsmanship.