Men's Tennis | 5/17/2013 12:47:00 PM

Mobile, Ala. - The NAIA has announced that 94 men and 119 women tennis student-athletes have been named 2013 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.  McPherson College had one honoree on each list as Kara Wright (Wichita, Kan.) made the women’s list and Slav Bukatin (Moscow, Russia) was on the men’s.

In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status to qualify for this honor.

Wright, who has a 3.54 Grade Point Average, was the Lady Bulldogs’ top player this season, posting a record of 5-6 in singles and 3-8 in doubles.  The squad ended the year winless and had multiple matches postponed and canceled.

Bukatin is a two-time recipient of the award and currently has a 3.97 GPA.  He played the No. 2 slot for McPherson this year and ended the season with a 13-8 singles and, along with partner Sean Dullaghan, 15-13 doubles record.  The men’s squad went 23-8 this year and narrowly missed making the cut to go to the NAIA National Championships.

“Kara and Slav are two of the hardest workers I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” said head tennis coach Jeff Benito.  “Their work ethic will take both of them very far.”

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