DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake men's tennis players Will Ecklund, Jose Alessandro Hernandez, Cowen Lau, and Adan Tarquino were recognized as ITA Scholar-Athletes, and the Bulldogs were also honored as a group as one of 159 ITA All-Academic Teams, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced yesterday.

"This is a great accomplishment by the guys," Drake head coach Justin Stuckey said. "We want to foster a mindset of excelling on the court and in the classroom. Its great to see the guys accomplish this."
 
Academia is an integral aspect of not only the college tennis experience, but also the mission of the ITA. Academic success adds to the unique student-athlete experience found on college campuses across the nation.
 
Within the sport of tennis, student-athletes continue to exceed expectations in the classroom and on the court. In 2025, 994 Division I Men's student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, and 159 men's tennis programs were awarded the All-Academic Team distinction.
 

To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, one must meet the following requirements:
·       Have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year
·       Be listed on the institutional eligibility form
 
To be named an ITA All-Academic Team, programs must meet the following requirements:
·       Have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above (on a 4.00 scale),
·       All student-athletes included should be listed on the institutional eligibility form, and
·       All varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year