Christopher Newport Men’s Tennis Achieves Seventh Consecutive ITA All-Academic Honor
A testament to consistent academic excellence, the Christopher Newport men’s tennis program has been recognized as an ITA All-Academic Team for the seventh consecutive year, as announced earlier this month by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. This achievement underscores the commitment to both athletic and intellectual pursuits within the Captains’ program, led by head coach Eric Christiansen.
Academic Prowess on Display
The Captains didn’t just earn team honors; they also boasted four individual ITA Scholar-Athletes for the 2024-25 academic year. Leading the charge is Edvard Porsmyr Hansen, who made history as the first student-athlete in program history to achieve the distinction five times. Joining Hansen are Ashton Bearings, earning the honor for the fourth time in his career, and repeat selections Vincent Truong and Nesh Kumaresan.
To qualify for ITA Scholar-Athlete status, players must maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. This rigorous standard highlights the dedication of these student-athletes to their studies alongside their competitive tennis careers. According to the ITA, the award recognizes collegiate tennis players and contributes to the “rich intellectual community found on college campuses.”
Beyond the ITA: Additional Recognition
The success of the Captains extends beyond the ITA recognition. All four ITA Scholar-Athletes were also named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections and received recognition from the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference as All-Academic picks. This sweep of academic accolades demonstrates a holistic approach to student-athlete development at Christopher Newport.
In total, 1,115 Division III Men’s Tennis players were named ITA Scholar-Athletes, and 135 men’s tennis programs received the All-Academic Team distinction. To earn the team honor, programs must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above, with all eligible student-athletes and varsity letter winners factored into the calculation.
A History of Academic Success
Christopher Newport’s consistent academic performance is a hallmark of the program. A review of past ITA Scholar-Athlete selections reveals a sustained commitment to academic achievement:
- 2025: Nesh Kumaresan, Ashton Bearings, Edvard Porsmyr Hansen, Vincent Truong
- 2024: Nesh Kumaresan, Ashton Bearings, Edvard Porsmyr Hansen, Vincent Truong
- 2023: Jake Dolphin, Dawson Driscoll, Matthew Dubuque, Edvard Porsmyr Hansen, Tyler Hyun, Ashton Bearings, Ryan Monroe, Alec Strause, Vincent Truong
- 2022: Dawson Driscoll, Matthew Dubuque, Bently Goodwin, Tyler Hyun, Peter Karanski, Ashton Bearings, Ryan Macy, Edvard Porsmyr Hansen
- 2021: James Baron, Paul Baron, Walter Buck, Dawson Driscoll, Matthew Dubuque, Luke Fernandez, Bently Goodwin, Edvard Porsmyr Hansen, Tyler Hyun, Mason Kolls, Ryan Macy
- 2020: James Baron, Walter Buck, Dawson Driscoll, Matthew Dubuque, Mason Kolls, Dominic Lacombe, Ryan Macy, Andy Mason
- 2019: Walter Buck, Nick Ruzicka, Andy Mason, Dominic Lacombe, Ryan Macy, Mitch Brody
- 2018: Nick Ruzicka, Andy Mason, Dominic Lacombe
- 2017: Michael Dodd, Arttu Fiva, Dominic Lacombe, Nick Ruzicka, Sam Thomson
- 2016: Michael Dodd, Arttu Fiva, Nick Ruzicka, David Reed
- 2015: Arttu Fiva
- 2008: Jacob Braig
The ITA, the governing body of college tennis, oversees the sport across all divisions and administers comprehensive awards and rankings programs. This latest recognition reaffirms Christopher Newport’s position as a leader in both athletic competition and academic excellence.
