IU East named NAIA Men's Tennis Champions of Character Team of the Year
By IU East Sports Information
RICHMOND, Ind. – Indiana University East's tennis players stepped up to serve at a variety of local youth events and at a Hoosier community in need during the 2016-17 school year. Their efforts were recognized during the recent NAIA Tennis National Championships when IU East was named the recipient of the 2016-17 Buffalo Funds Five-Star Champions of Character Team Award for men's tennis.
The NAIA presents Five-Star Champions of Character Team Awards for each of the NAIA's 23 championship sports. Teams that receive this prestigious award demonstrate in every day decisions integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. These institutions and athletic programs strive for excellence in and out of competition and are part of communities throughout the country dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.
"Character plays a huge role in the success of our IU East men's tennis team," said Red Wolves junior-to-be Keaton Akers. "Character builds the relationship for our team and helps us create the trust needed for success. We have a very close bond, and this translates into performing at a high level in matches. The traits that are important to me and to our team include fairness, honesty, reliability, cooperation and a sense of humor. We provide support for each other in all situations, on and off of the court. Like all teams, we have our ups and downs, physically, mentally and emotionally. But, by demonstrating these traits of character, we provide support for each other, both on and off of the court."
IU East's tennis athletes helped others in a variety of ways over the past 12 months.
* IU East players staffed the game and activity booths at a Junior Red Wolves spring fun night in 2016.
* The Red Wolves served as volunteer coaches during the opening week of a spring youth tennis clinic offered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County and the Amigos Latino Center.
* IU East student assistant Ty Butler gathered a group of Red Wolves to assist with cleanup efforts after a tornado damaged homes near his hometown in southwest Indiana in late February.
"Character, as a vital part of the team's chemistry, provides the trust, belief in each other, and cohesiveness that binds the individual players into a united and motivated team committed to winning performance," IU East coach Erskine Ratchford wrote in the team's award nomination materials. "Having strong character provides a constant for the players that generates trust, respect and a willingness to set aside individual desires and do what is best for the team and the team's performance. Only with having character as an essential part of the team's chemistry will the group have the strength to summon up a winning performance when faced with adversity and difficult challenges. A team with character has the bedrock to weather storms and maintain the ability to come back and perform in a winning manner."
It is the first Champions of Character Team Award for the IU East men's tennis program and the eighth for the school's athletic department.
IU East has been a Champions of Character institution every year since joining the NAIA in 2007.