Five of the team's seven athletes were recognized by the ITA and MWC for their academic achievements.

Lobos Earn ITA, MWC Academic Honors

UNM's 3.51 GPA made them an ITA All-Academic team for the second time in the program's history

July 20, 2005

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The New Mexico men's tennis team reaffirmed its status as not only one of the best teams in the nation, but also one of the smartest. The Lobos have been recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as an All-Academic team.

The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). All eligible student-athletes whose names appear on the NCAA eligibility form and have competed in one or more varsity matches must average into the GPA for the current academic year. UNM, posting a 3.51 team GPA, was one of just 28 teams to meet the requirements. UNM was also one of four schools (Boise State, Denver and UNLV) to represent the Mountain Region and one of two schools (UNLV) to represent the Mountain West Conference.

This is the second time under the tutelage of head coach Alan Dils that the Lobos have achieved All-Academic Team status. The Lobos did so in 2003, posting a 3.52.

Individually, five student-athletes were named ITA Scholar Athletes for the 2004-05 season. The five placings ties James Madison Univ. for the second most and is just one shy of Yale's six. It also ties the team's record set in 2003.

In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must be a varsity letter winner, have a grade point average of at least 3.50 for the current academic year and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters.

Senior Ryan Stotland and junior Eric Conklin made the list for the third time in their careers, both making the cut in 2003 and 2004. Stotland, an Accounting major, and Conklin, a Mechanical Engineering major, recorded GPAs of 3.8 and 3.89, respectively.

Senior David Kowalski made the team for the second time, placing on it in 2003.

Freshmen Kamil Pajkowski and Max Jones also made the team. Pajkowski posted a GPA of 3.81 as a Biology major while Jones turned in a 3.55 as an Economics major.

Stotland, Conklin, Jones and Pajkowski were also four of the conference-high 86 student-athletes from New Mexico to earn the Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete Award. It was the fourth recognition for Stotland in his career and the third for Conklin.

In order to be eligible for selection, students must have completed at least two semesters at the certifying institution while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or better and have competed in at least one varsity contest in their respective sport.

Kowalski joined Stotland, Conklin, Jones and Pajkowski on the spring 2005 Academic All-MWC team. Kowalski, an Accounting major, posted a 3.38 GPA. It was also the fourth time Stotland received the award, while it was the third recognition for Kowalski.

To be eligible for selection, athletes needed to complete at least one academic term at the member institution while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and be a starter or significant contributor.