TEMPE, Ariz. – On Wednesday afternoon (July 24), the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) proudly announced the 2024 Division III Women's ITA Scholar-Athletes and All-Academic Teams. The St. Mary's College of Maryland women's team picked up their 15th overall ITA All-Academic Team Award while eight team members were named ITA Scholar-Athletes.
To be named an ITA All-Academic Team, programs must
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.
St. Mary's College posted a 3.619 team GPA during the 2023-24 academic year for its second All-Academic Team recognition under second-year Head Coach
Sona Brymer. The Seahawks were one of 167 women's tennis programs as well as the only United East Conference institution to be awarded All-Academic Team distinction.
Academia is an integral aspect of the college tennis experience and adds to the unique student-athlete experience found on college campuses across the nation. In 2024, 1,271 Division III women's student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, a student must
have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year and be listed on the institutional eligibility form.
Representing SMCM as ITA Scholar-Athletes were
Ayden Daniel '24 (Silver Spring, Md./Blake),
Ellie Walter '24 (Easton, Md./Easton), juniors
Melak Armstrong (Silver Spring, Md./Holy Cross),
Giselle Harris (Easton, Md./Easton) and
Amber Manspeaker (Finksburg, Md./Westminster), sophomores
Tessa Hansen (Frederick, Md./Walkersville) and
Emily Shioutakon (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel), and first-year
Lauren Lovejoy (Newburg, Md./La Plata).
Harris, Manspeaker, and Walter are all ITA Scholar-Athlete selections for the third straight time. Additionally, Harris and Manspeaker earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors on May 14. All eight were named to the 2024 United East Spring All-Academic Team.
St. Mary's College posted a 9-6 (4-1) overall record for the 2023-24 season, advancing to the United East Volt Division championship game as the No. 2 seed.
Past ITA All-Academic Awards
