Six Wheaton tennis players named ITA Scholar-Athletes, women's team earns third straight academic award

August 17, 2007

NORTON, MA- Six Wheaton tennis players, including five members of the institution's women's team, earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete laurels for the 2006-07 school year. Additionally, the Lyons were one of 62 Division III women's squads that nabbed ITA All-Academic Team honors after also being recognized in each 2005 and 2006.

Representing the Wheaton men was Will Stoddard (Huntington, VT/Mount Mansfield Union), who graduated in May with a 3.62 grade-point average after majoring in economics and mathematics. He also drew honors following his sophomore year. The three-time New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference qualifier was one of only four NEWMAC representatives among the 263 male Division III ITA Scholar-Athletes.

Five Wheaton women qualified for the accolade, including 2007 graduates Darby McDermott (Briarcliff Manor, NY/Hackley School), Jamie Weiss (Chicago, IL/Francis W. Parker School) and Sara White (Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield), as well as juniors Briana Jackson (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) and Maya Milic-Strkalj (Philadelphia, PA/Friends' Central School).

McDermott finished with a 3.34 GPA after majoring in economics, Weiss compiled a 3.32 GPA while studying toward a philosophy degree, and White recorded a 3.52 GPA and majored in studio art. Jackson enters her senior year carrying a 3.93 GPA as a chemistry major, and Milic-Strkalj has a 3.90 GPA as she studies toward degrees in German and philosophy. Jackson and Milic-Strkalj each earned their third ITA Scholar-Athlete honor, while Weiss and White drew their second.

Wheaton's women's team posted a 3.42 GPA for fall 2006 and a 3.21 GPA in spring 2007. To be eligible for the award, a program must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or above for one full academic year. The GPAs of all student-athletes who competed in at least one varsity match are averaged into the team's GPA for the academic year.

In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must be a varsity letterwinner, have a GPA of at least 3.50 for the current academic year and have been enrolled at his or her present school for at least two semesters.

During her 27th year at Wheaton, head coach Lynn Miller led the Lyon men to an 11-5 mark in 2007 and their third straight NEWMAC Tournament championship match, while the women also posted an 11-5 record.

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