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Ryan Thacher, Stanford
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Jana Juricova, UC Berkeley
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Aeriel Ellis, University of Texas
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ITA Announces 2012 NCAA Division I National Award Winners
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced the national award winners for NCAA Division I tennis during a ceremony on the campus of the University of Georgia, in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Team Championships.
The (ITA) has long recognized outstanding sportsmanship displayed by member coaches, their teams and student-athletes. Three student athletes with ties to the Northern California section were bestowed honors, Ryan Thacher, Stanford University, Jana Juricova, University of California and Aeriel Ellis, University of Texas who grew up in Hayward, CA.
ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship - Ryan Thacher, Stanford University
A two-year captain for the Stanford Cardinal, Ryan Thacher, the 2012 Men's ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship honoree, has helped lead the team through several ups and downs in his four years. He has had tremendous success on the court, reaching the NCAA Doubles Semifinals in 2010 and the NCAA Finals in 2011. He has also been named an ITA All-American twice in his career, along with earning All Pac-12 First Team honors on three occasions. Thacher has recorded at least 20 singles victories in each of his four seasons with the Cardinal. While not the most vocal leader in the history of Stanford tennis, his leadership is second to none. He leads by example, always showing his opponents and officials respect no matter the situation he is in. Thacher has an impressive 3.917 GPA with a major in history, demonstrating a tremendous focus to balance athletics and academics. He has also worked with the East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutorial Program, a program that brings local kids in to be tutored by Stanford students. Thacher plans to attend medical school to become a pediatric surgeon or trauma specialist after playing tennis professionally.
ITA National Senior Player of the Year - Jana Juricova, University of California
Currently in the top 15 in both singles and doubles of the Campbell/ITA Division I Women's Rankings, Jana Juricova, the 2012 ITA National Women's Senior Player of the Year, is closing out a stellar four years in Berkeley. The Golden Bear senior experienced one of the best seasons in the history of college tennis in her junior year, winning the 2011 NCAA Singles Championship en route to being named both the Campbell/ITA National Player of the Year and 2011 Honda Sports Award Winner. She is also a three-time singles and two-time doubles ITA All-American honoree. Juricova made an impact on college tennis immediately, teaming up with Mari Andersson to claim the 2009 NCAA Doubles Championship. She also became the first ever USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Singles Champion in program history. Known as the Bear for her fierce competitive spirit on court, Juricova has amassed more the 150 singles victories and nearly 140 doubles victories in her career.
ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship - Aeriel Ellis (Hayward, CA), University of Texas
Aeriel Ellis, the 2012 ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship, has been a program-changer for Texas since she stepped foot onto campus in 2009. She took on the pressure of playing at the first singles spot for one of the top programs in the country, never letting her quiet and humble demeanor be influenced by the hardships she faced. Her dedication and determination have not only allowed her to improve from one season to the next, but have also allowed her to become a true leader and positive influence for her team. She is a three-time qualifier for the ITA/Riviera Women's All-American Championships as well as the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships. Her freshman year she was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and qualified for the NCAA Singles Championships. Aeriel also earned ITA All-American honors last season. Last summer, she discovered her mother had been diagnosed with bone cancer, prompting her to spend the summer in California caring for her mother. She returned to Texas in the fall to pursue her degree and helped her team to another solid season while playing with such a tremendous burden. Tragically, Aeriel's mother passed away on March 25, 2012. The bond the Texas Longhorns squad has formed around Aeriel is a true testament to her open and honest nature, as well as her positive disposition. She is truly the epitome of resiliency.