CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The entire Fighting Illini men's tennis 2024-25 squad and five student-athletes were recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for their work on the court in the classroom during the 2024-25 academic year, the organization announced on Monday.
The Illini exceeded the benchmark of a GPA of 3.2, which was necessary to qualify for the ITA All-Academic Team award. Tyler Bowers, Mathis Debru, Kenta Miyoshi, Zach Viiala, and Jeremy Zhang were all tabbed ITA Scholar-Athletes for earning at least a 3.50 GPA across the 2024-25 academic year.
An ITA Scholar-Athlete honoree for the first time in his collegiate career, Bowers also garnered Academic All-Big Ten recognition. Named the Illini's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient following the 2024-25 season, the Bloomington, Ill., native amassed 16 singles wins and a career-high 18 doubles victories while appearing in both the ITA singles and doubles rankings during his redshirt sophomore season.
In his third and final campaign with the Orange and Blue, Debru claimed Academic All-Big Ten, CSC Academic All-District, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar distinction, in addition to being named an ITA Scholar-Athlete for the second consecutive year. Graduating with a bachelor's degree in agricultural and consumer economics in May, Debru posted 17 singles triumphs while registering 14 singles wins during dual play, which ranked second on the team. Totaling 14 doubles victories throughout his senior campaign, the Grenoble, France, native clinched the Illini's 5-2 win over No. 12 Michigan on Feb. 22.
Miyoshi collected several academic accolades following the 2024-25 academic year, including CSC Academic All-District, Academic All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors. The 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year and a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honoree during his standout junior campaign, Miyoshi amassed a team-high and career-most 30 singles wins, 20 of which came against ranked opposition. He also was tabbed the ITA National Player to Watch and tallied ITA Scholar-Athlete status for the second straight season.
In his first collegiate campaign, Viiala finished with 18 singles wins, nine of which came during dual play. Climbing into the ITA doubles rankings for the first time in his career, Viiala tallied 16 doubles wins, six of which occurred against conference opposition. He also earned CSC Academic All-District, Academic All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors while being recognized by the ITA for the second campaign in a row.
Receiving ITA Scholar-Athlete honors for the second time, Zhang closed out his sophomore season with 11 singles wins and 15 doubles victories. The Sydney, Australia, native collected the fourth-most doubles triumphs in his second year with the Fighting Illini, and he also collected CSC Academic All-District, Academic All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar nods.
